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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:
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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:
  • "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 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.
  • +447024078589 (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.
  • claimsagent_norlan@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "ONLINE NOTIFICATION" <onlineinfo@ukonlinegaming.net>
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2006 23:08:07 +0000
Subject: congratulations (please contact claims agent)



FROM:THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
RAFFLE DRAWS PROMOTIONS 2006
REFERENCE NUMBER:UKNL/05/8256/53219/QE327
DEAR WINNER,

We wish to notify you that your email address was randomly selected and
entered into our free second Category draws(computer balloting). You
subsequently emerged a winner and therefore entitled to a substantial
amount of 1,500,000 Pounds (one million five hundred thousand great
British pounds Sterling Only). You are required to Contact immediately the
Lottery CLAIMS AGENT in processing of your lottery funds claims.
Endeavour to quote your REFERENCE NUMBER:UKNL/05/8256/53219/QE327,
in your correspondence to our CLAIMS AGENT.
To file for your claim, please contact our CLAIMS AGENT by email or
phone call with the contact below:

REV.NORLAN DAVIES
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT MANAGER
EWEEK SECURITY COMPANY UK
CRAWFORD LODGE 98A REDCLIFFE
GARDENS LONDON SW10 9HH, UK
TEL: +44-7024078589
TEL: +44-7031850204
Email:claimsagent_norlan@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam