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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:

• 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")
  • "overseas claims unit" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• 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.
  • +34652659880 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • vtsfinance@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: super@ssorteo5.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:35:25 +0100 (CET)
Subject: YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN SELECTED!!!


YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN SELECTED!!!
San Juan P02 3 1, Madrid, Spain.
Ref: SP/9420X2/68
Batch Number: 074/05/ZY369
FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:

We happily announce to you the draw (#1002) of the MICRO-SOFT SUPER SORTEO on-line Sweepstakes program held on 4th January, 2008. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 03-09-13-35-43-45(bonus no.08), which subsequently won the lottery in the 2Nd category.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 450,000.00 euro(Four hundred and fifty thousand euro) credited to file KTU/9023118308/07.

This is from a total cash prize of 2,700,000.00 Euros shared amongst the (6) lucky winners in this category. All participants for the on line 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 on-line. This promotion takes place once in two years.
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 450,000.00 euro(Four hundred and fifty thousand euro) will be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.

Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact the Agency.
To file for your claim, contact our fiduciary agent:
Overseas Claims Unit:
VINTAGE SECURITY AND FINANCE S.A
Contact Person: Sr.Vicente Miguel.
Email: vtsfinance@aim.com
TEL: +34-652-659-880
FAX: +34-940-468-337
For the processing and remittance of your cash to your designated Bank Account. Remember, all winnings must be claimed not later than JANUARY 28Th 2008, after this date, all unclaimed funds will be returned to the promotion company.

Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of the proceedings in order to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
You are to provide the following informations below to your fiduciary agent so as to enable the speedy evaluation and processing of your winning.
1. Your Full name:
2. Your full home / office address:
3. Direct telephone / fax numbers:
4 Your date of Birth:
These informations are necessary to file for your claim.

Yours truly,
Mrs.Rosewisa Edward,
(Promotion manager).

NB: All participants below the age of 18 years old are automatically disqualified.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam