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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:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • ",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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "certified bank draft" (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 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.
  • +2348037057716 (Nigeria, 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.
  • dhldeliveryunit9@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "United Nations Foundation" <info@uno.com>
Reply-To: albertocarlos77@aim.com
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 05:39:09 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Dear Recipients,

Dear Recipients,


I am plead to bring to your notice the decision by the Board of Trustees
of United Nation Organization(UNO),European Union(EU).to choose you as
one of the final recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation for your own
personal, educational, and business development.The both organization's
have come to a conclusion to eradicate proverty and save humanity of many
people in the world.You have been awarded for a Cash Grant/Donation of
$1,500,000.00(One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

All Participants were selected Through an electronic computer ballot
system for all email users drawn From over 20,000,000 email addresses of
individuals and companies from Africa,America,Asia,Australia,Europe,
Middle East, Oceania, North American,and South American.All information is
strictly confidential and will only be used for the purpose to which it is
been requested.

Your Certified Bank Draft of $1,500,000.00 is now deposited with DHL
DELIVERY SERVICE.you are expected to contact the DHL office for immediate
delivery of your package to your residencial address.when contacting the
DHL you are to provide your REGISTERED ORDER NUMBER which
is{DHL/907/385/319} your Full Name,Direct Phone# and Posting Address
should be attached to this number for easy identification.

Contact Person: Mr.Peter Cole
Position:Head of Dispatch Unit
WORLD DHL DELIVERY SERVICE
Email:dhldeliveryunit9@aim.com
DHL HOUSE: Air port Rd,Kaduna,West Africa.
TEL :+2348037057716
Direct Tel:+234-803-705-7716
Open 7days-24hrs-365days

Kindly send the above REGISTERED ORDER NUMBER to (WORLD DHL DELIVERY
SERVICE).Please your Full Name,Direct Phone# and Posting Address should be
included in your correspondence.This is mandatory to reconfirm your Postal
address and telephone numbers.

Ensure to contact (WORLD DHL DELIVERY SERVICE) with the email address
given above Email:dhldeliveryunit9@aim.com

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of(UNO) and (EU) kindly, accept our
warmest congratulations.

Sincerely.
Mr Alberto Carlos
United Nations Representative
UNO SECRETARIAT.
WEST AFRICA CENTRE
P.O.BOX:4567
3 Victoria Highland,West Africa.
This year Grant Award is strictly administered by (UNO)
All rights reserved. © 2000-2008

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam