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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:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +447040104368 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447005802861 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Fortis Finance Securities Company" <fortis.finance@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:58:44 -0500
Subject: Claims Procedure

FROM: THE DESK OF THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, FORTIS FINANCE & SECURITIES
COMPANY, UNITED KINGDOM.

Attn: Dirick M.

We acknowledge the receipt of your mail.

This is to inform you that we have been intimated by the Royal National
Lottery that you are one of the lucky winners of their periodical
promotional lotto program and we are to effect the immediate transfer of
your cash prize of EU1,500,000.00(ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EURO
ONLY). Your prize has been insured to its principal value with your email
address and will be transferred upon meeting our requirements which is meant
to satisfy all official laws and protocols as mandated by the International
Gaming Board regulations and the Gaming Regulators European Forum(GREF).

The said sum is now deposited in our suspense account in your favor waiting
for the immediate remittance to you. Please note that there can be no
deductions from the prize money as it has been insured with a hardcover
insurance policy that makes it impossible to make any deduction of any kind.
Your prize money shall be sent to you completely as it is against the
regulations of the GREF to deduct from the prize of winners.

We on behalf of Royal National Lottery Promotion will issue an Irrevocable
Guarantee of Payment Bond (IGPB) in your favor, thereby securing the above
prize money. A copy of the IGPB will be forwarded to our paying bank for
immediate action. However, our client (RNL Promotion) has been notified of
this development and the status of your claim.

Following the above, you are expected to complete the below requirements
along with a copy of your international passport or driver's license via
email attachment or by fax for vetting process which is a standard practice
just to ensure that we are dealing with the right individual. This process
is vital and urgent following the instruction from our clients(RNL)that all
prize money should be claimed on or before the DEADLINE.

1. Full names
2. Residential Address
3. Phone Number
4. Date of Birth
5. Occupation
6. Nationality

Be assured that in line with our principles of efficiency, transparency and
customer satisfaction, we will handle all transfer operations with the
highest level of professionalism and discretion to ensure you receive your
prize within the shortest possible time.You will only help us by fulfilling
all requirements as stated above and accordingly as all procedures are meant
to protect clients and to avoid cases of misappropriation and mishandling of
prize monies.

You are required to respond and act promptly to all instructions provided
above. Contact me immediately if you encounter any problems processing your
claims or wish to ask questions on issues not understood.

Congratulations!!!

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Mark Darren
Finance Director,
Fortis Finance & Securities Company
Phone:+44-704-010-4368
Fax: +44-700-580-2861

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam