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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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• 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:

• 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")
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +447031898715 (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.
  • jsmithza1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MICROSOFT EMAIL PROMOTION <msn@microsoft.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jsmithza1@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:28:53 +0200
Subject: YOU HAVE WON



Your email address just won you £1,200,000.00 in the ongoing
Microsoft sweepstakes draws held September 2008.Your email address was
attached to BATCH NO:2005SEPTL#22 ,REFERENCE NO:MSW-L/200-26937
,Award numbers: NL 56/7765 .Contact fiduciary with the datas below:
************************************************************** FOREIGN
TRANSFER MANAGER NAME MR JOHN SMITH MICROSOFT SECURITY DEPARTMENT(UK)
TEL:+ 447031898715 E-mail:jsmithza1@hotmail.com
************************************ ************************** You
are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the following details
to avoid unnecessary delays and complications: It is important to
note that your award information was released with the following
particulars attached to it. (1)Full
Names:.........(2)Add:.................
(3)Tel/fax.............(4)Occupat ion........... (6)
Nationality/Country.............. congratulations from the Staffs &
Members o f the interative Lotteries Board Commission ; Sincerely,

TERESSA CODDIN CONTROLLER GENERAL

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam