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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447031979654 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Iwon 16th Anniversary Bonanza 2008" <iwon-bonanza@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:48:02 -0700
Subject: (No subject header)

ATTN:
Congratulations as we bring to your notice, Iwon Promo Board
has chosen you by the board of trustees as one of the final
recipients on this year Bonanza cash grant/Donation. To
celebrate the 16th anniversary Celebration, we are giving
out a yearly donation of 450,000.00 USD to 3 lucky
recipients, as a Bonanza. All Participants are selected from
individuals all over the continent that do register on the
Internet daily.

This Iwon Bonanza is approved by the British Gaming Board
and also licensed by the International association of Gaming
Regulators (IAGR).

Your computer selected # is(Iwon-005676568-Bz) and your
contact address.

Your Name In Full:
Valid Contact Address:
State/City:
Zip code/Country:
Valid Phone/Fax Contact Number:
Age:
Occupation:
Religion:


Ref: 769760FG08
Your computer selected # is Iwon-005676568-Bz


Please you are advised to verify your above listed address
contacts as your valid details or re-update your contact
address if you have relocated from your contact address
above and send it immediately to our lawyer Mr. Peter
Collins to file for your awarded claims.


Barrister. Peter Collins
Phone :( +44)7031979654
Fax: (+44)7031979654

You are to keep all information away from the general public
especially your computer selected # is Iwon-005676568-Bz.
This is important as a case of double claims will not be
entertained).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam