419 scam: Barbara Wong <Barbara.Wong@xjtlu.edu.cn> Is your email valid?

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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:

The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claim 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.
- gcent83@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2020 12:47:03 +0000
Subject: Is your email valid?

Attn: Sir / Madam,

We happily announce to you the draw (#2524) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 201-5836-9986-777 with Serial Number: C906-20, Drew lucky numbers: (25)-(32)-(34)-(52)-(55)-(59) bonus # (09). which consequently won in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £7,629,623 (Seven Million Six Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Three Pounds Sterling) shared among the first ten (10) lucky winners in this category.

Contact our claim agent Dr .Gordon Walsh Email ( gcent83@gmail.com )and do not forget to summit the following to our Claim Agent.

(1) Your Full Names:
(2) Telephone Number:
(3) Reference Number:
(4) Contact Address

Do be aware that our Paying Bank will remit Payment Swiftly upon satisfactory report, Verification and validations provided by our processing Agent that would be designated to your file. Remember, all winning must be CLAIMED not later than 10 th of March 2020. Should there be any eventual change of information please inform our Agent as quickly as possible.

Note: Anybody under the age of 16 is automatically disqualified.Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to participate in this program.

Yours truly,
Dr. Barbara Wong.
Games / Lottery Coordinator.
Central Europe Zone.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam