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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "e.a.a.s " (no such lottery exists)
- "arena complex km 18 route de rufisque" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
- "route de rufisque" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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!
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +447031802998 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447011120601 (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.
- sookwah5277@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Euro-Afro Asian International Lottery Board
<euro-afro-asian020102@msn.com>
Reply-To: <sookwah5277@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 11:58:18 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We happily announce to you the draw of 2012 Euro-Afro Asian Sweepstakes Lottery International Program held on the 30th March 2012 in United Kingdom. Your E-mail address attached to ticket number: FD559/SL/7443465/05 with serial number: 652-662 and draw Lucky number: 5341802-560 which subsequently won you lottery in the 3rd category of file number: FA1305U-ID. You
have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$750,000.00
(Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) in Cheque.

All participants
in this lottery program were selected randomly through a computer ballot
system, drawn from individual email addresses from all search engines.
Your e-mail address was picked by the automated computer ballot system,
which has been programed for this random selection. This has eventually
qualified you for the Winning. This promotional program takes place
annually, and is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities, Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates of Microsoft
Inc.With the support of European corporate companies and organizations
to encourage the use of Internet and computers worldwide. in cash
credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.
YOUR ADDRESS HAS WON (750,000.00)
Please
note that your lucky winning number falls within our Asian
representative's booklet in SARAWAK MALAYSIA as indicated in your file
number: FA1305U-ID. In view of
this, your $750,000.00USD Cheque would be released to you by Our Asian
Fiduciary Agent, Our Asian Fiduciary Agent will immediately commence the
process to facilitate the release of your Cheque as soon as you contact
Barrister: HO SOOK WAH office in SARAWAK MALAYSIA, Please
contact Barrister HO SOOK WAH in SARAWAK MALAYSIA, for your claim with
the following details below to enable the speedy evaluation and
processing of your winning.

1 Name. 2 Home address. 3 Telephone Number. 4 Age and Occupation. 5 Ticket number. 6 Serial number. 7 File number. 8 Draw
number.
Person to Contact:
BARRISTER: HO SOOK WAHE.A.A.S Inc. ASIAN FIDUCIARY AGENT

E-mail: sookwah5277@gmail.com

For
security purposes and clarity we advice that you keep your winning
information confidential, and not to be disclosed to anyone until your
claim have been fully processed and your winning Cheque delivered to
you.

Your
winning details can only be released to your fiduciary agent who will
commence the process of your winning, This is to avoid wrong and double
claim, it is also part of our security protocol to avoid unwarranted
abuse of this program by some unscrupulous element.You are requested to
contact Our Asian Fiduciary Agent in SARAWAK MALAYSIA for your claim.
Please note that you will make your claim but not later than (14)fourteen days and grace period of(7)seven days from the date you
received winning notification, failure to issue claims after this period, your prize will be automatically voided.

In
order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications make sure that your
winning details are quoted correctly in all correspondence. We advice
that you adhere strictly to these procedures to avoid disqualifications
and subsequent cancellation. The above detailed information will be
absolutely necessary to facilitate the process of your winning Cheque.

CONGRATULATIONS,Yours faithfully, DR. KELVIN MARTIN, Z0NAL COORDINATOR TEL: +447031802998FAX: + 447011120601 WEBSITE: www.virtualworlddirect.com E.A.A.S Lottery Headquarters,
Euro-Afro Asian
Sweepstakes Lottery Inc.
Customer Service, 580 N.Tenth Street,
Sacrament, CA 85914. An Affiliate of Charity International.
Arena Complex Km 18 Route de Rufisque,
I.P.P Award Department, United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam