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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.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • bright_fero002@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: alex_emma2006@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 22:30:55 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONTACT=20MY=20SECRETARY?=


Hello Dearest Friend,

I am glad to inform you that I have successfully concluded the transaction,the
money has been transferred to London through the assistant of Mr.Howard
Ferraro who is a London base business man.
Currently I am in London with him and my wife and children.
However, I did not forget you because you are the source of my success,you
made me what I am now though you are not there to complete this project
with me but I gave all the credit and thanks to you.
I know it is not your fault or rather your wish to back off on me and the
transaction, I understand it was simply because of some circumstances you
could not control.

In appreciate of your assistance I have mapped out as a Compensation and
wrote on your favor a certified bank cheque worth of US$800.000.00
(Eighty hundred thousand , United States Dollar Only) I left the cheque
with my Secretary Mr Bright Fero, on my departure to London.
I would like you to contact him on the below info and instruct him where
to send the cheque to you because i have directed him on that already.
Attn: Mr Bright Fero.

Email:(bright_fero002@myway.com)
As soon as you recieve the cheque you let me know because i am busy here
trying to put things together and may not be chanced to email you frequently.Feel
free to contact him for your cheque.I will stop here.
Once again,thank you very much and remain blessed.
Regards,
Dr, Alex Emma

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam