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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "claims 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 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.
- foundtalent@dr.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: DR DIEGO CARLOS <bem47catwqastpzr99@btconnect.com>
Reply-To: DR DIEGO CARLOS <diegocarlos0205@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2017 13:31:22 -0800
Subject: Congratulations once again from all our members of staff and thank
you for being a part of our International promotions program

AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION

This is to inform you of the release of the GLOBAL INTÂ´L SWEEPSTAKE ESPAÃ‘A, S.A. program held on the 24th January, 2017. The results were released on the 2th February, 2017.Your name attached to ticket number 214-1781-501 with serial number 7216-05 drew the lucky numbers of 21â€”28-36-39-42-45 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay-out of $US915,810.00 (NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN US DOLLARS ONLY) in cash credited to file with REF.NO.GTT/O76841284616ESP, BATCH.NO.130505ES This is from a total cash prize of $US5,599,999.92 (FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE THOUSAND,NINE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE US DOLLARS AND NINETY TWO CENT ONLY) Shared among the international winners in their respective categories. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Names entered in the program were presented by FOUND TALENT S.A, in conjunction with the government of each country that was selected for this international lottery draw. (Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, South America and Antarctica,).Over four hundred million names were donated for this raffle draw; seventeen lucky international winners were selected from the jackpot.

Your fund has been deposited with a security company and COMPREHENSIVELY INSURED IN YOUR NAME For some security reasons, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and money remitted to your account, as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by participants.

To begin your lottery claim, please contact your claims agent DON.HUGO SANCHEZ The Foreign operations manager of FOUND TALENT SECURITY COMPANY, S.A. On Tel: 0034 631 771 336, EMAIL:foundtalent@dr.com for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 20th OF February 2017.After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA.

NOTE: Remember you have to pay 5% of your wining fund to your claims agent after the fund gets to you. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once again from all our members of staff and thank you for being a part of our International promotions program.

Note: PRIZE CLAIM TRACKING NO: 704663412

Sincerely

DR DIEGO CARLOS

VICE PRESIDENT

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam