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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "million united state 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)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "cheque " (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!

Fraud email example:

From: "DR.HILARY MOORE" <oliver@inordeybegu.sk>
Reply-To: <ericlewis123@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:40:38 -0600
Subject: Past Effort Reward


Dear Friend,

I am happy to inform you about my success in getting your winning funds
under the cooperation of a new partner from South Africa. Presently I'm in
South Africa for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.
Mean while,I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to get your
winnings despite that failed somehow.


I have made a deposit of $500.000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS)in
addition to your lottery winnings of $5.5m now amounting to $6,000,000.00
(Six million United States Dollars)with the Mr.Eric Lewis . Now contact the
Mr.Eric Lewis ,Find below his contact information.


LICUTION DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION & FINANCE.
NAME: Mr.Eric Lewis
E-MAIL: ericlewis123@sbcglobal.net

Ask him to send you the total $6,000,000.00 (SIX MILLION UNITED STATE
DOLLARS) certified bank Cheque, which I raised in your favor for your
compensation for all the past efforts and attempt in this matter.I really
appreciated your efforts at that time very much.


Secondly, you are hereby advice to stop dealing with some non-officials in
the bank as this is an illegal act and will have to stop if you so wish to
receive your payment immediately. After the board meeting held at our
headquarters, we have resolved in finding a solution to your last uncliamed
problem.


So feel free and get in touch with Mr.Eric Lewis and give him your
address where to send the draft to you or rather inform him about a
telegraphic wire transfer if you like. Please do let me know immediately you
receive the Cheque to enable us share the joy after all the sufferness at
that time.In the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment
projects, which the new partner and me are having at hand,finally, remember
that I had forwarded instruction to the Mr.Eric Lewis without any delay.

Best regards,
Dr.Hilary Moore.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam