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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "fudiciary" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 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.
  • vicente_miguelagent@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: elgordo@sorteolottery.com
Reply-To: vicente_miguelagent@yahoo.es
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:22:50 +0000
Subject: YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN SELECTED!!!





YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN SELECTED!!!
Supersorteo lottery
PO Box 28029
L70 2NB Camio Madrid, Spain.
(Customer Services)
Ref: NL/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
www.supersorteo.net

WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw (#1071) of the SUPERSORTEO LOTTERY,
online Sweepstakes International program held on Saturday 13th October
2007. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545188
with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 13-21-34-36-38-45
(Bonus no.08) which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd
category i.e match 6 plus bonus . You have therefore been approved to
claim a total sum of 1,000,000.00 Euros (One Million) in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118308/03.

This is from a total cash prize of 7,000,000.00 Euros (Seven Million Euros)
shared amongst the Seven (7) lucky winners in this category
i.e match 6 plus bonus. All participants for the online version were selected
randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and
extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations and corporate bodies
that are listed online.
This promotion takes place once in two years for non Players.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play
coupon. In view of this, your 1,000,000.00Euros(One million Euros) would be
released to you by our payment office in Spain.

Our Fudiciary agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate
the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For security
reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential
till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you. This is part
of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted
abuse of this program, Please be warned.

To file for your claim, please contact your fudiciary agent immediately
via the email below. With a filled copy of the Verification form Below.

VERIFICATION FORM
1.FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:...........................
2.RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:...........................
3.DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:...........................
4.PHONE/FAX NUMBERS:...........................
5.SEX:...........................
6.OCCUPATION:...........................
7.MARITAL STATUS:...........................
8.NATIONALITY:...........................
9.YOUR BATCH NUMBER............
10.YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER........

PAYMENT MODE: OPTIONS
1.BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER.
2.CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIERED TO YOU VIA OUR
AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS.

SEGURIDAD Y FINANZAS.S.L
To file for your claim, contact our fiduciary agent:
Contact Person: MR.VICENTE MIGUEL
Email: vicente_miguelagent@yahoo.es

Note: All winnings must be claimed before the 22th October 2007;
otherwise all funds will be forfeited. Congratulations once again on
your winning!

Cordially,
Mrs.Maria Jose
Online Co-ordinator
SUPER SORTEO LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam