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:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
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.
- +34672860163 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- atocha@madrid.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Central Bank of Spain" <swiftunit3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Dr. William Cruz" <Atocha@madrid.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:55:38 -0800
Subject: REF: TRANSIT BULK DELIVERY TRANSFER NOTIFICATION: REF.
S076554920134392

SWIFT MESSAGE

Swift Input : FIN103 CUSTOMER CREDIT
Date of issue : 03 / 10/ 2011
Maturing at : 14 / 11 / 2011
Amount : 1,390,000.00 EUROS
TRANSIT BULK DELIVERY TRANSFER NOTIFICATION: REF. S076554920134392, (1,390,000-00=MILLION) EUROS ONLY,

Hello Dear,
We refer to thirty- six (36) payments sent to our bank on the 15th of November 2011 under the instructions of the International Centre for Settlement of Contracts & Investments Disputes (ICSID) which is an autonomous international
institution established under the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Settlement of Contracts Disputes, Lottery Winnings etc. Value was 12th April 2010. Twenty-seven payments have since been completed, while nine remained pending.
Your name has just been submitted to us as the beneficiary to one of the payments under the following transaction references;
1) TRN S076554920134392
Amount 1,390,000 -00 Euros
Value dated 14 November 2011
By order of ICSID via the Central Bank of Spain
Reference: SP/SMF/BCEAO-47/09ST
We advise as status payment arriving our bank and ready for onward transmission to your account as the final beneficiary. The fund transfer will be credited and completed via swift as a 72hrs (3-days) normal banking period is allowed and
shall be taking its normal banking routing and clearing system through our correspondent bank, UniCredit Banca S.p.A (Europe) ISLAMIC GUARANTEED BANK (Asia/Middle East) and Bank of America, in America.
Note: Due to the delay of providing your details on how you want to received this fund, Central Bank of Spain management board has advised you to contact your nominated agent to file in your claim or your fund will be return as
unclaimed with out any delay.
So you are advised to forward your details below include your identification by fax or email to your claim agent immediately.
1) Your Full Name: .................................
2) Your Age: ............................................
3) Marital Status: .....................................
4) Your Cell Phone Number: ..................
5) Your Fax Number: ...............................
6) Your Country: ......................................
7) Your Occupation: .............. ..................
8) Sex: .....................................................
9) Your Religion: .....................................
10) Your Address: ..................................
11) Bank Details
(Your Claim Agent Contact informations)
Atocha Seguros Company S. A (SPAIN)
Tel: +34 672 860 163
EMAIL: Atocha@madrid.com
Contact Person : Mr. William Cruz
Foreign/Acc. Manager
NOTE: WE ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO MAKE ANY DEDUCTIONS FROM YOUR WINNING FUND BECAUSE YOUR WINNING PRIZE HAS BEEN INSURED AND UNDER THE INSURANCE POLICY AND RULES GUIDING THIS PROMOTION, YOU ARE TO BE PAID
THE FULL AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU WON WITHOUT ANY DEDUCTIONS.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ana Maria Mendez
General Overseer
Tel: +34 911829 396

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam