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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: mrs thelma williams <mrs_thelma_williams2@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs_thelma_williams1@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 04:32:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT




DEAR SIR,


WITH THANKS I WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECIEPT OF YOUR MAIL.


PLEASE NOTE THAT MY BOSS ENGR. FRANCIS MARTINS ACTUALLY DROPPED A CERTIFIED CASHIER'S CHEQUE DRAWN TO THE TUNE OF US$1,500,000.00 WITH ME AND WITH AN INSTRUCTION THAT I SEND IT ACROSS TO YOU UPON YOUR CONTACTING ME AND GIVING ME YOUR FULL NAMES AND YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.


IN VIEW OF THIS, PLEASE DO RECONFIRM TO ME YOUR FULL NAMES, MAILING ADDRESS AND YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER WITH WHICH I CAN REACH YOU AS SOON AS YOUR DRAFT IS DESPATCHED TO YOUR GIVEN AND LAWFUL ADDRESS.


HOWEVER MY BOSS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE TO PARAGUAY FOR INVESTMENT MADE PROVISION FOR THE COST OF SENDING THE CERTIFIED CASHIER'S CHEQUE TO YOU, SO I WILL BE WAITING TO RECIEVE THE RECONFIRMATION OF YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER TO ENABLE ME VISIT THE BANK WHERE THE CERTIFIED CASHIER'S CHEQUE WAS KEPT INORDER TO PICK UP THE CHEQUE FOR ONWARD DELIVERY TO YOU AS INSTRUCTED BY MY BOSS.

I WILL SEND YOU ANY FORM OF DOCUMENTS YOU MAY DESIRE TO HAVE AND ABOVE ALL A COPY OF THE CERTIFIED CASHIER'S CHEQUE ISSUED IN YOUR NAME AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU


THANKS AND WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU URGENTLY.


YOURS SINCERELY.
MRS THELMA WILLIAMS


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam