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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.

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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:
  • "top of the day to you" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "money order " (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.
• 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.
• MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Bruce " <bruce_art90837@rediffmail.com>
Date: 12 Jan 2007 09:53:46 -0000
Subject: REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED!!!


Dear Client,Top of the day to you. My name is MR BRUCE WALLACE, I am an artist with my wife KATE WALLACE, we own KATE ART WORLD in London (United Kingdom) I live in the United Kingdom, with my two kids, four cats, one dog and the love of my life my wife KATE. It is definitely a full house, I have been doing artwork since I was a small child that gives me about 39 years of experience I majored in art in high school and took a few college art courses, most of my work is done in either pencil or art brush mixed with color pencils.I have recently added designing and creating artwork on the computer, I have been selling my art for the last 6 years and have had my work featured on trading cards, prints and in magazines, I have sold in galleries and to private collectors from all around the world. I am always facing serious difficulties when it comes to selling my art works to Americans, they are always offering to pay with Money Order or Certified Check, which is difficult for me to cash here in United Kingdom.I

am looking for a representative in the United States Of America who will be working for me as a part-time worker and i will be willing to pay 10% for every transaction, which wouldnt affect your present state work, someone who would help us receive payments from our customers in the states, I mean someone that is responsible and reliable, because the cost of coming to the state and getting payments is very expensive and time consuming, I am working on setting up a branch in the state, so for now I need a representative in the United States Of America who will be handling the payments aspect for our company.These payments are in Money order or Certified Check and they will be written in your name. If you are willing to assist as a representative, So all you need do is to cash the payments, deduct your percentage and cost of the transfer.You are to receive the payment which will be sent to you by Fedex or UPS from our customers, then you take it to a local bank or check cashing point and cash it, then you are

to deduct your percentage and send the remainning funds via Western Union Money Transfer or Moneygram.PLEASE REPLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESSPRIVATE EMAIL: bruce_art@excite.comNOTE: All charges of the Western Union money transfer or MoneyGram will be deducted from the money you are sending, so you are rest assured that you wouldnt spend a dime out of your personal money.If you are interested, please get back to me as soon as possible via email.N: B, Please send to me the listed information below:FIRST NAME :LAST NAME :AGE :ADDRESS :CITY :STATE :ZIP CODE :COUNTRY :PHONE NUMBER (S) :GENDER :Thanks for your assistance and Remain blessed.Endevoure to keep this highly confidencial --- bruce_art@excite.comBruce Wallace.Director of KATE ART WORLD INC,London, United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam