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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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")
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 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.
- uknationallotteryfiduciaryagent@safe-mail.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: KATHERINE ALLARDYCE <c.jojos09@hotmail.co.za>
Reply-To: <uknationallotteryfiduciaryagent@safe-mail.net>
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2014 08:16:58 +0000
Subject: YOUR UK SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY WIN
!!!..[http://www.national-lottery.com/results.asp]

Customer Services
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
File: KTU/9023118308/03

Good day to you,

We happily announce to you the draw of the UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International program Held on Tuesday, the 7th of January
2014 in Leeds United Kingdom.

This draw was Held for Citizens of the Following continents:

1) USA
2) AFRICA
3) EUROPE
4) ASIA
5) NORTH / SOUTH AMERICA
6] MIDDLE-EAST

Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number: 564 75600545 188 and
Serial number 5368/02 and Drew the lucky winning numbers:
19-23-31-36-45-46-27: which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd
category. You have Been Approved THEREFORE to claim the full sum to of
$854,000 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand United States Dollars)
equivalent in cash Credited to file Ktu/9023118308/03.This is from a Total
Cash Prize of $8,540,000 ( Eight Million, Five Hundred and Forty thousand
United States dollars. ) equivalent shared Among The First Ten (10) lucky
winners in this category

All Participants were selected randomly from the World Wide Web Draw-through
computer system. This promotion Takes place quarterly.

In view of this, your $854,000 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand United
States Dollars) would be released and Processed by our Fiduciary agents /
officers in United Kingdom.
For security Reasons, you are Advised to keep your winning information
Confidential Until your claims processed Has Been completed and your money
remitted to you in Manner whatever you deem fit to claim your prize. This is
part of our precautionary measure to Avoid Claiming and unwarranted Abuse of
This Some unscrupulous elements by program. Please Be Warned.

To file for your claim, Please contact our fiduciary agent:

NICHOLAS TOWNSEND
Email: uknationallotteryfiduciaryagent@safe-mail.net

You can go to our online result site stated above in the subject of this email to confirm
your winnings numbers :http://www.national-lottery.com/results.asp

Thank you for Being part of our promotional lottery program.

Sincerely,

Katherine Allardyce
UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL LOTTERY COORDINATOR

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam