419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- +447035912873 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "END OF YEAR PROMO!!" <info@toyota.com>
Reply-To: vansteward01@live.in
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 22:10:27 -0200
Subject: End Of Year Promo From Toyota(CALL FOR CLAIMS MR VAN STEWARD ON
(+44 70359 12873) (+44 70359 12866)FILL YOUR CLAIMS FORMS)

TOYOTA CAR PROMOTION DEPARTMENT
TOYOTA MOTOR SALES,UNITED KINGDOM, INC.
2 LANSDOWNE ROW, BERKELEY SQUARE
LONDON, W1J 6H, UNITED KINGDOM

Congratulation Dear Lottery Winner,

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HAS WON THE 2009 TOYOTA PRIZE AWARD

This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of
£600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds)and a brand new
toyota car (2010 Toyota camry) International programs held September 13TH
2009
in the London Uk as our car sales promotion.

This Toyota car Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also
Licensed by the The International Association of Gaming Regulators(IAGR).
This promotional car lottery is the tenth of its kind and we intend to
sensitize the public.

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our accredited
Prize fiduciary Agent as stated below:

Mr.Van Steward
TOYOTA CAR PROMOTION DEPARTMENT
2 LANSDOWNE ROW, BERKELEY SQUARE
LONDON, W1J 6H, UNITED KINGDOM
Email: vansteward01@live.in
Phone Number: +44 70359 12873
+44 70359 12866

When contacting him, please provide him with your {secret pin
TY7448500 and your reference number 799BV90}.You are also advised to provide
him with the under listed information as soon as possible:

CLAIMS REQURIEMENTS:
1.Name in Full
2.Address
3.Nationality
4.Age
5.Sex
6.Occupation
7Phone/Fax
8.Present Country

Pls Note by sign of (X) how you want your winning amount to reach you.
1) BY BANK WIRE TRANSFER
2) BY OUR ACCREDITED COURIER SERVICE.

If you do not contact the claims agent within {10} working days of this
notification,your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to keep
their winning details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent
claim(IMPORTANT) pending the transfer/claim by Winner.

Accept my hearty congratulations once again!

Regards
Mrs. Sarah Williams
Lottery Manager.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam