419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- chevron_tex@kimo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "CHEVRON/TEXACO OIL COMPANY" <award2010@chevron.com>
Reply-To: chevrontexacoaward2010@kimo.com
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 02:13:36 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: We are glad to have you as one of our lucky winners for the 2010
award

THE CHEVRON/TEXACO OIL COMPANY
No 62 Sungai Way New Village
Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur.
TEL:+60103999518
EMAIL:chevron_tex@kimo.com

Congratulation You Have Been Selected in the on-going chevron/Texaco
poverty alleviation program held this year and you have been awarded the
sum of $852,000.00 USD.(EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS).

Note:This program is mainly aimed at alleviating poverty,it is also aimed
at encouraging Internet Users world wide.
This email is randomly sent to five people worldwide,and if you did
receive this email,it means you are one of the five(5) lucky winners.
Your verification number is:(CT-222-6747,FGN/P-900-56).

CONTACT OUR CLAIMS PROCESSING OFFICER IMMEDIATELY:

CONTACT PERSON: Mr. Kenneth Davids
EMAIL: chevron_tex@kimo.com
PHONE: TEL:+601-039-99-518

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as
soon as possible:

1. Name:
2. Address:
3. Country of Residence:
4. Telephone Number:
5. Age:
6. Occupation:
7.Remarks About Chevron/Texaco:

SPECIAL NOTICE: All E-mail response should be send to the following email
address for verification and payment approval chevron_tex@kimo.com

We are glad to have you as one of our lucky winners.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Rosemary Perkins.
Online Coordinator...
Co-sponsors of this program are listed herein: Shell Oil Company,
and the Federal Government of Malaysia.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam