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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: JONATHAN OGUH <j_oguh@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:16:57 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: VERY URGENT.


Dear Reggie Seilerzer,
Yes of course, my boss Barrister Mark Biyogo do left with me a CERTIFIED DRAFT CHEQUE in favour of one Reggie Seilerzer before he travelled to foreign country were he based now with his entire family.
I shall send the cheque to your nominated address provide via courier service, as he instructed and also you are requried to send to me the mailing fee, which is the sum of One hundred and twenty five dollars only ($125 usd), to enable me send the cheque to you via courier service, as my boss did not left the mailing fee with me, therefore as soon as I receive the mailing fee, I will send the cheque to you immediately, to your mailing address which you will provide without any delay.
Further more, you are required to send the mailing fee via western union money transfer. RECEIVER NAME: Mr Jonathan Oguh, London-UK.
Remember to enclose the control number, text question and anwser.
Thanks,
Mr. Jonathan Oguh.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam