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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447075009801 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447005961524 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447011149842 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Unity_Trust_International_Bank_PLC=AE?= <transfer-funds@unitytrustintbankplc.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:04:59 +0000
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?FROM_UTIB_PLC=AE_:_Attn:_Lottery_Winners?=



Unity Trust International Bank PLC®.
Main Road, Birdham,PO20 7HU,
Chichester, England.
Tel: +44-701-114-9842
27th August, 2007.

Attn : Lottery Winners,

Compliments of the Day. We here at the Unity Trust International Bank PLC® has been informed/Mandated by fiduciary Agent In charge of your winning funds (Mr Ben Sparklan) that we are responsible to credit and make transfer of a total sum of Five Thousand Pound Sterling's (£500,000) to your Local Bank Account, please be duly informed that for this transaction to occur, you are to follow the laid down procedures of our Bank's Terms and Regulations:

You are to register a Short Term Account with our Bank which its function is to transfer the said amount, do note that we can not transfer directly to your Local Bank Account because the funds from Emirates International Lottery Commission your prize is still domiciled in the escrow account of the BANK OF ENGLAND®.

As soon as you have registered this Short Term Account with our Bank we will credit your new account with the funds from the escrow account of the BANK OF ENGLAND®, through this activated Account that is registered in your name, we will credit the sum of £420,000. All that will be required of you is to make further transfer from your Account with our Bank to your Local Bank Account or any other Bank Account around the world.

Attached to this mail is a scan copy of your lottery winning cheque that was deposited in the escrow account of the Bank Of England.

We await your soonest response to commence transaction with you.

We wish you a successful financial future.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Yours in service,

Allen Escriva (Sir.)
(HEAD OF OPERATION)
FOREIGN/LOCAL OPERATIONS.
Unity Trust International Bank Plc®.
England, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44-701-114-9842
:+44-703-194-2246.
:+44-703-196-4438.
Fax: +44 7005-961-524
: +447075009801.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unity Trust Int. Bank PLC. Registered in England. Registered No: 1026167. Registered Office: Main Road, Birdham,PO20 7HU, Chichester, England. Unity Trust Int. Bank PLC is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Unity Trust Int. Bank PLC adheres to the principles of the Banking Code. A copy of the Code is available on request. "The UTIB" and "UTIB" are trading names of Unity Trust Int. Bank PLC. This e-mail and any attachments to it contain information that is confidential and maybe privileged. It is for the exclusive use of the intended recipients. If you are not the intended recipient(s) please note that any form of distribution, copying or use of this communication or the information contained in it is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this email in error, please return it to the sender and delete the email from your records.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam