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:

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")
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
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.
- +448719968715 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: FROM THE FACEBOOK AWARD LOTTERY PROMOTION UK <webvvvhy@outlook.com>
Reply-To: facebookboard@ovi.com
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 03:18:44 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?Fw:_UK.YOU_HAVE_WON_THE_SUM_OF?=
=?UTF-8?Q?_GBP=C2=A31,000,000.00_FROM_THE_FAC?=
=?UTF-8?Q?EBOOK_AWARD_LOTTERY_PROMOTION_?=
=?UTF-8?Q?UK_PLS.VIEW_THE_ATTACHED_FILE=E2=80=8F?=

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK LONDON ENGLAND!

Facebook the largest Social Networking site valued more than $100 Billion Dollars and also expecting its One Billion Users to come mainly
from Mobile devices than desktop Users by 2014, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has decided to boost Users and Companies a WINDOW OF
OPPORTUNITY by Lottery Program and Initial Public Offer said in a press release.

So We are pleased to inform you of the result of the NEW YEAR DRAW held on (5th January 2014) by Facebook Company in cash Promotion to
encourage the usage of Facebook users world wide, your Name and Email address was among the 10 Lucky winners who won Â£1,000,000.00 GBP (One
Million Great Britain Pounds) each on the Facebook promotion Award Attached to Ticket Number (5647600545189), Ref No (2551256002/244) and
Serial Number (55643451907).

The online draw was Conducted by a random selection of email you where picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from the
Facebook in other to claim your Â£1,000,000.00 GBP the lottery program which is a new innovation by Facebook, His aimed at saying A BIG
THANK to you all our users for making Facebook your number one Social Networking to hook up with their families and friends all over the
World.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants and all
participants were selected through a computer ballot system with their email addresses and names from all over the world.

Your name and email was selected in a raffle draw that was made 5th of January 2014 so we need your fast response so that we can proceed
with the delivery of your fund.

You required to contact our dispatch dept via email (awards92facebook@nokiamail.com) Contact Name: Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Henderson) in order
for us to complete your Winning Certificate and for further information regarding the disbursement of your lottery win.

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your Ticket, Reference and Batch Numbers in all correspondences.

Furthermore, if there is any change in email address please contacts us on time.

PLEASE VIEW THE ATTACHED FILE FOR FURTHER STEP ON HOW YOU CAN PROCEED AND CLAIM THE PRIZE MONEY URGENTLY.

Regards

Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Henderson
Facebook Claim Agent UK
For info please give us a call: Tel: +44-871 996 8715

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam