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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:

• 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:
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • +447045706302 (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.
  • hsbc_bankservice@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: venkat balaji <vebala_1986@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 15:51:14 +0100 (BST)
Subject: treat as urgent


hello sir,

,y name is balaji venkadesan from INDIA, i got a scam email reportedly saying that i had won the uk lottery, (without knowing about my real facts and details,) they are often trying to KNOW all about my details. here below i,ve PASTED the mail that i recieved from the strangers. please have a look at that message and kindly reply me for the same.



HSBC BANK PLC
P O Box 1010,
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref:UK/9420X2/68
Batch:074/05/ZY369
Date:4/04/2007

ATTENTION:BALAJI VENKADESAN,

CONGRATULATIONS!This is to inform you that you have been cleared a
winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY online Sweepstakes International
program.
I am happy to inform you,your Original Certificate and your Certified
bank cheque has been fowarded to the HSBC BANK PLC .
Find below the details of the HSBC BANK PLC .
HSBC BANK PLC
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE:Link House, 1C CHURCH STREET,
WHITCHURCH, HANTS,RG28 7AD ENGLAND.
NAME:MR JOHN WHITE(dispatch officer)
EMAIL:hsbc_bankservice@yahoo.co.uk

TEL1: +447045706302

ORDER NUMBER:LA562725

Note: you are to Quote your complete names,Ref/Batch Numbers and your direct phone number so that they can honour your letter.Once again i say congratulations and always inform me with your dealings with the HSBC BANK PLC .

Thanks,

MR JOHN WHITE


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam