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:
- "national lottery promotion" (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million british pounds" (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)
- ",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.
- +447024084889 (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.
- nationallotter.uk@aol.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs. Beatrice Benny (Group Coordinator)i
<Mrs.BeatriceBennyGroupCoordinator@consultant.com>
Reply-To: nationallotter.uk@aol.com
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2016 11:30:16 +0200
Subject: =?utf-8?q?UK_NATIONAL_LOTTO_AWARD_WINNING_PRIZE_NOTIFICATION_=C2=A310=2C0?=
=?utf-8?q?00=2C_000=2E00?=

The National Lottery PO Box 287WatfordWD18 9TT
Camelot UK Lotteries Limited
Registered office: Tolpits Lane, Watford, Herts WD18 9RN
Registered in England and Wales No. 2822203
UK Lottery E-mail Warning Nu=
mbers
Winning numbers for Lotto #2191 (Wednesday 21st December 2016):

Ticket Numbers: AQUA 2934 1168
Euro Millions winning numbers for Euro Millions #2191 (21st December 2016):=

Winning numbers drawn at 9.00pm GMT on Wednesday 21st December 2016:
Email winning tickets: AQUA 2934 1168/ winning tickets: PINK 7690 5693:
Email: computerized email selection 08 23 24 34 38
Thunderball winning numbers for Thunderball #2191(Wednesday 21st December 2=
016):

YOU=
=E2=80=99RE WINNING NOTIFICATION:

Attn:

We wish to congratulate and inform you on the selection of cash prize =C2=
=A310,000,000.00 (British Pounds) held on UK Millionaire Email Raffle resul=
ts Wednesday 21st December 2016 in London UK. The selection process was car=
ried out through random Selection in Our computerized email selection syste=
m (as) from a database of over 98,000,000 Email addresses drawn from which =
your E-mail address attached to ticket number: AQUA 2934 1168 with Lucky St=
ar number Lucky Star 21/91 which subsequently won you the lottery in the 1s=
t category i.e. Euro Millions draw #2191. The total number of consolation p=
rizes won in UK Lotto email selection system game was 03,07.

The Powerball lottery and National Lottery Promotions Unit (NLPU) is respon=
sible for raising awareness of Lottery funding to Good Causes. Amongst othe=
r initiatives, NLPU manages the National Lottery Awards on behalf of The De=
partment for Culture Media and Sport, the Lottery funders and the operator,=
Camelot.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of =C2=A310 Million P=
ounds, (Ten Million British Pounds) in cash credited to file MBH/ AMG 55 /2=
016. This is from a total cash prize of =C2=A310,000,000.00 only, shared am=
ong the (W J Z 7 1 0 3 3 6) lucky winners in this category i.e. this May pl=
us bonus. For due processing of your winning claim, please contact your Age=
nt Mr. John Richard Allen who has been Assigned As your payment Agent to as=
sist you. You are to contact him with the following details for the release=
of your winnings. You're Full: Name and your Address, Telephone Fax Number=
before time runs out.

To claim any prize above =C2=A3500 you will have to complete a prize claim =
form and give proof of your identity. If you are claiming a large prize, ad=
ditional checks on your winning ticket may be conducted. All National Lotte=
ry Game prizes must be claimed no later than the 365 days after the closing=
date of the particular Game. Any such prize not claimed within this period=
will be forfeited if you were one of the lucky winners.

Please Contact your Agent: Mr. John Richard Allen
Tel: +447024084889
Tel/Fax: +447003900958
Fax: +447003900958
Email: nationallotter.uk@aol.com

Mon - Fri: 9am to 5:30pm

Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 9am to 11pm

Sun 9am to 3pm

All other days 9am to 5:30pm

If you do not contact your claims agent within 5 working days of this Notif=
ication, your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to keep their =
winning details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim (IMPO=
RTANT) pending the prize claim by Winner. Camelot is committed to operating=
The National Lottery in a socially responsible way. If you suspect that a =
retailer is selling National Lottery tickets to anyone under the age of 16,=
you can report them by calling our dedicated hotline on 0870 160 001 All c=
alls are fully investigated by Camelot's security team. Accept my hearty co=
ngratulations once again!

Regards

Mrs. Beatrice Benny (Group Coordinator) W=
ritten by Lottie McDonald
If you're unhappy with the service you've received, please see our complain=
ts page for details of our complaints procedure.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam