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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• 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.
  • +34686417049 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • yoanisalex10@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: kelly@kellyhudson4.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:12:26 +0100 (CET)
Subject: ATTN:WINNER,


ATTN:WINNER,
Easydraw Loteria Español
Paseo De La Castillano
17-19, 28008 Madrid Spain.
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our Easydraw computer balloting sweepstake loteria held on 14th of December 2006. This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users,therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. You have been approved for the star prize of 700,000.00 Euro.(Seven Hundred Thousand Euro) CONGRATULATIONS!!
To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings prize,
PREMIUM FINANCE AND SECURITIES, S.L
Contact Person: Mr. Alex Yoanis
Tel:+34 686-417-049
Contact Email: yoanisalex10@aim.com
Batch No:SUTO/980/TWM/EU
Ticket No: WRNM/SMI/5990
Lucky No: 10-23-44-72-80
Serial No: MUOTI/82536
You must contact the appointed agent with your Full Names, Contact Telephone Numbers (Home, Office and Mobile Number and also Fax Number) via email to process the immediate payment of your prize.
Note: You will be require to pay for the issuance of your Tax clearance certificate only. The certificate is your legal prove/guarantee which will be submitted to the bank for the remittance of your fund.
The Validity period of the winnings is for 30 working days hence you are expected to make your claims immediately, any claim not made before this date will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed.
Once again congratulations !!!
Best Regards,
Mrs Kelly Hudson
(Lottery Sec.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam