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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +27739847644 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "claims megamillion" <megamillionclaims@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:10:31 +0000
Subject: Claims application form

Dear Patrick Drake,

I have checked and confirmed your winning details from our head office in
the United Kingdom and I am glad to inform you that you are truly one of our
lucky winners in our 2010 FIFA soccer world cup promotions. A total of one
million British pounds (£1,000,000) will be transferred into your account.
Congratulations Indeed.

To begin your claim, you will find attached a claim application form, which
you are required to complete with a black pen and either fax back or scan
and send by email. This will enable me to process your claims and send your
file to our accounts department for the immediate release and transfer of
your prize money to your nominated account in your country.

I would also like to inform you that your prize money has automatically been
insured to guide against any kind of mishap. Your Insurance certificate will
be sent to you as soon as you return completed copy of your claim
application form.

Please write an email to confirm that you got the claim application form in
good condition, and also inform me as soon as you send back the completed
copy of your claims application form back to me. This will enable me process
your claim faster than normal.

I would also like to inform you that Mrs. Linda Bosman has gone on her
annual leave and I have taken over her responsibilities, which is to make
sure that you receive your money in your account.

Please be informed that you have to comply with all the rules and
regulations guiding your claim, so that we will not experience any
difficulty in the transfer of your prize money to you.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Congratulations once again and good luck.

Best Regards,

Beki Yengeni: Acting Claims Manager
MegaMillion Lottery Promotions
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Tel: +27 73 984 7644
Fax:+27 11 507 6273

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam