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:
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- +447045771621 (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.
- info.revpaulchris@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: HEINEKEN LOTTERY <web.office2011@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: info.revpaulchris@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:15:57 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?__=AE_CONGRATULATIONS!_=AE_YOU_HAVE_WON_=24500=2C_000=2E00?=
=?iso-8859-1?Q?_=AE_FROM_THE_HEINEKEN_COMPANY_PROMOTION_!!?=

HEINEKEN BOTTLING COMPANY
ANTHONIE VAN DIJCKERWEG
11078 AMSTERDAM
NETHERLANDS

THE HEINEKEN COMPANY SEASONAL PROMOTION!

Dear Lucky Winner,

We are delighted to inform you the result of the annual final draws of Heineken Annual Promo.

The online Heineken Annual Promo draws was conducted by a random selection of E-mail addresses from an exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer (TOPAZ) search from the internet. However, no tickets were sold but all E-mail addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy.

After this automated computer ballot, your E-mail address emerged as one of the Eight (8) lucky winners in the fourth category for the second prize with the following data:

Ref Number: ASL/941OYI/02/SHYN
Batch Number: HGL-14/28/0046
Ticket Number: 025-11464992-750

You as well as the other winners, are therefore to receive a cash prize of five hundred thousand united states dollars (US$500,000.00) for the total payout.

Your prize award has been insured with your E-mail address and will be transferred to you upon meeting the requirements, statutory obligations, verifications, validations and satisfactory report. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European representative office in Amsterdam, Holland, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of US$500,000.00 will be released to you from your regional branch office.

You are required to fill and Submit the below information to the Processing management via e-mail.

1. Full name:.............................
2. Country:........................
3. Contact Address:.......................
4. Telephone...............................
5. fax Number:.............................
6. Marital Status:............................
7. Occupation:................................
8. Age:..........................................
9. Sex:.................................

Your Reference and Batch number at the top of this E-mail: Please you are advised to complete the form and send it immediately to your claims agent via e-mail below for prompt collection of your fund.

Overseas Claims/ London,UK Payment Unit
Contact your claim agent: Rev.Dr.Paul Chris
Email: info.revpaulchris@yahoo.co.uk
Mobile:+447045771621

Your claims agent will submit your information to the authorized Paying Bank.

For security reasons, we advise all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this program by non-participant or unofficial personnel.

All winnings MUST be claimed before the end of this programmed; otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to the charity organizations.

THESE BELOW ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR PAYMENT:
AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM
CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP
STAMP DUTY

Thank you and Accept our congratulations once again!

Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Carol Williams
HEINEKEN Games/Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam