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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045730680 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447045730681 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- visacardaward2010@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Visa =?UNKNOWN?Q?Card=AE_/_Msn=AE?= INTERNATIONAL MEGA JACKPOT
<tolszynski@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: visacardaward_2010@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:02:23 +0800
Subject: Email Ref No:VCard/699/33/2010

Visa Card® / Msn® INTERNATIONAL MEGA JACKPOT
PROMOTION/CLAIMS DEPARTMENT
440 THE STRAND LONDON, WC2R 0QS
ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM.

Attn:Winner:
Winning No:VCard/877/798/2010
Email Ref No:VCard/699/33/2010
Notification Date:01/08/2010
AMOUNT WON:500,000.00GBP [Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds].

This email address has brought you an unexpected luck.Your e-mail address
was selected and confirmed by our co-sponsor Msn International e-mail screening
team through their latest internet software.You are therefore been approved by Visa
Card Int. UK the sum of 500,000.00 [Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds].
===================================
CONTACT FIDUCIARY AGENT
===================================

Name: Mr. Kelvin Johnson
Email : visacardaward2010@yahoo.com.hk
Phone :+ 44 7045730681
Fax :+ 44 7046745393

Visa Card® / Msn® Promotion Department
Do email the above Claims Administrator, at once with all the claims
requirements below.To avoid unnecessary delay.Your information are needed to
proceed your winning claims.

Claims Requirements:
1. Full Name:____________________
2. Address:_____________________
3. Nationality:___________
4. Sex:________
5. Age:________
6. Date of Birth:___________
7. Occupation:_________
8. Martial Status_________
9. Cell Phone:___________
10.Fax:________________
11. State of Origin:_________
12.Country:____________
13.Winning No:_______
14.Email Ref No:_____________

PROCEEDURES / RIGHTS AND PRECAUTIONS
Kindly indicate your payment option and Contact the Claims Administrator
with all your claims requirements well filled @ visacardaward2010@yahoo.com.hk

Mode of Payment
(i). Bank Transfer
(ii).Delivery of Prepaid Visa card® Valued 500,000.00 GBP by a registered
Courier Company.

Congratulations!!!

Thank You

Sincerely,
Mrs.Dora Lazmon
Secretary.
+ 447045730680
Visa Card® / Msn® Mega Jackpot
2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam