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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "money orders " (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)
  • "cheques " (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)
• This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.

Fraud email example:

From: "Wu Fiona" <wu_fiona2@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 10:36:27 +0000
Subject: Re: Representative.

Yiwu Menglei Import & Export Co., Ltd.

132 Wuai Road,
Yiwu City,
Zhejiang Province. China
wu_fiona2@msn.com

wu_fiona@yiwumenglei.net

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Re: Representative.

 

Compliments of the day and my best wishes to you. I am Fiona Wu. The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the above company. This company is into the supply of home textiles, toys, china wares, and stationeries. This company was established in 2004 under the Company and Allied Matter with the Corporate Affairs Commissions of China.

 

Having stumbled over your email address through a methodical search, I decided to contact you hoping that you will find this proposal interesting. We are interested in employing your services to work with us as a private payment agent that can help us establish a medium of receiving payment for goods that was supplied to our customers in your location as the company is already experiencing difficulties in receiving payments from them.

 

Most of our customers pay out in cheques and money orders and we do not have an account in your country that will clear this money. It is upon this note that we seek your assistance to stand in as our representative in your country. It is important to let you know that as our representative, you will receive 9% of whatever amount you clear for the company and the balance will be for the company.

 

Please if you are interested to work with us in  honesty, contact Mr. Lee Ching the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this company who is presently in the UK through this email address: lee_ching@yiwumenglei.net

 

Endeavor to let him know that I directed you to him. Please let him know your decision rather than keeping him waiting because I will inform him about my contacting you. The CEO will tell you more on receipt of your response. If you are not interested, please ignor this email. Thanks for your interest in anticipation.

 

 Sincerely,

 Mrs. Fiona Wu (PRO)
 Yiwu Menglei Import & Export Co., Ltd.
 Goods for Import, Freight Fwdg. Svcs.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam