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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • paulinatham230@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: philipkarli@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:40:49 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?COMPASETION=20FOR=20YOUR=20EFORT=20?=

FROM :Mr Philip Karli
Dear Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your
family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect
condition. I am using this opportunity to thank you
for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of
fund into your account due to one reason or the other
best known to you.

But I want to inform you that I have successfully
transferred the fund out of my bank to someone else
account who was capable of assisting me in this great
venture through the help of the diplomat i told you
about.Due to your effort, sincerity,courage and
trustworthiness you showed at the course of the
transaction I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you with the sum of $1,6USD.
I have authorized my new secretary who is now also my
personal adviser to issue you international certified
bank cheque cashable at your bank.

My dear friend I will like you to contact My secretary
for the collection of this international certified
bank cheque.The name and contact address of My
secretary is as follows.
Reward For Your Effort Is Ready/Contact

Mrs Paulina Tham
CONTACT PERSON : Mrs. Paulina Tham
Email contact : paulinatham230@myway.com
At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the
investment projects which I and my new partner are
having at hand in Paris France.

Hope to hear from you soon.
Your friend
Mr Philip Karli

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam