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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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  (+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:
  • "fudiciary" (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.
  • +447035902098 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447075055512 (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.
  • reliancecountybank@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Acorn Express Courier Limited" <acornexpresscouriers@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:46:53 -0500
Subject: Attention: Ms Clotilde Kell

Attention: Ms Clotilde Kell ,
 
This office is in receipt of the information you provided for the processing of your lottery winnings of £3,987,470 which was also forwarded to us from the ONLINE DIRECTOR OF THE  BRITISH NATIONAL LOTTERY ( Mr. Chris Felix), your lottery funds of the sum of £3,987,470  have been processed.
 
I have forwarded your details, your file and original certificate to our associated bank (RELIANCE COUNTY BANK PLC ) for verification and payment. Now you are required to contact the bank yourself by writing an application for the release of your winnings to you. The application should be presented to them in the below format and sent by email to the Funds Transfer

Manager at the bank via this email: service@reliancecounty-online.com, reliancecountybank@yahoo.co.uk
________________________________________________
YOUR NAME:.....
TEL:..........
FAX:........
EMAIL:......
COUNTRY/STATE:.....
ATTN: Mr. Howard Morgan
FUNDS TRANSFER MANAGER

Email: service@reliancecounty-online.com
       reliancecountybank@yahoo.co.uk
Tel :  +44 703-590-2098
    :  +44 703-590 2013 
Fax :  +44-707-505-5512
    :   +44-707-505-5513
     
APPLICATION FOR MY BRITISH NATIONAL LOTTERY PRIZE MONEY OF  STERLING  £3,987,470).

 

I write in respect of the ££3,987,470 I have won in the British National Lottery  that is deposited with your bank. I was directed to apply to you by my legal/security agent ( Mr.Williams Robinson) and I hereby file a claim for my funds. My reference number is:PBL/CN/6654/CP

 
I will be most grateful if you will furnish me with your procedure for the claims and transfer of my money to me.
 
I anticipate your kind and speedy response.
 
Yours faithfully,
(YOUR NAME OR INITIALS)
_________________________________________________
 
Having applied to the bank, you are required to keep me updated of every correspondence and of progress with the bank as soon as you are in contact with them because it is my responsibility, as your Fudiciary agent, to ensure that you get paid and on time too. Again, it is important that you keep all your winning particulars and numbers personal and confidential until your prize money has been paid to you.
 
This is a security measure to avoid double claiming or/and impersonation.
 
Contact the bank as soon as possible to avoid delays to your payment. Should you have any difficulties whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Respectfully yours,

Mr.Williams Robinson

 

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam