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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +447024023376 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448709748431 (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.
  • customercare_bfpbank@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • megmilly12@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: megmills@merseymail.com
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:36:15 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE FROM MRS McMILLIAN

------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.tagz.info - Find great PHOTOS - you'll be amazed!
------------------------------------------------------------





Ref: UK/7803XI/04

Batch: 03/BT25/0306



Dear Winner,





As part of our procedure in assisting our winners to get their prizes claimed we demand regular updates on how far they have gone so that we can reduce the possibilities of losing their winnings in transit.



This is probably because most of these winners do not speak English or they do not really understand the claims process in detail which could further complicate matters for us here. This is very important.

You had been verified for prize transfer by my office and you where instructed to contact the bank via the following details below;

BUTTERFIELD PRIVATE BANK

TEL: +44 702 402 3376,+44 702 402 0893

FAX: +44 870 974 8431

EMAIL: customercare_bfpbank@yahoo.co.uk,

CONTACT: MR PETER HOWARD



I also informed you that you had to send them these details for them to commence your transfer;

1, Reference Number

2, Batch Number

3, Full Names*

4, Bank details. {IMPORTANT}

5, A medium of identification, i.e. either a copy of

Driver’s license or international passport or any other

Legal means of identification. {IMPORTANT}

6, Amount Won.

7, Contact Phone Numbers



I will like to inform you that if you hadn't received my previous email (which also contained your winning certificate) please notify me as soon as you get this email and contact the bank via the Bank Transfer liaison Officer (Mr. P. Howard) via email and telephone to avoid prize loss in transit.

Furthermore, you are also to inform us if you have contacted the bank prior to this email and let us know if they have acknowledged receipt of your email as there is the possibility that your previous application was lost!





This is an urgent email from my office and I will like you to acknowledge receipt of this email.



Yours Faithfully

McMillian, M. (Mrs)

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs.Meg McMillian

Megmilly12@hotmail.com

mrsmmcmillian@merseymail.com



You must be 16 or over to play or claim a prize

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam