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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.

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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:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Kabiru Usman" <usmankabi@latinmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 13:21:09 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: compensation



ATTN.DEAR

MY BOSS GAVE ME A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OF $1,200.000. (ONE
MILLION TWO
HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) THAT I SHOULD SEND IT
TO YOU AS
COMPENSATION FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO ASSIST HIM GETS THE FUNDS.
REMEMBER HE CONTACTED YOU SOMETIME IN THE PAST TO ASSIST HIM
REPATRIATE
THE FUNDS ABROAD.HE DIRECTED ME TO NOTIFY YOU ABOUT HIS
SUCCESS IN
GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO INDONESIA UNDER THE
COOPERATION OF A
NEW PARTNER FROM INDONESIA.

HE LEFT TO INDONESIA EARLIER LAST WEEK WITH SOME PEOPLE AND
FROM THERE;
HE WILL GO TO THE USA. MEANWHILE, CONFIRM YOUR ADDRESS SO THAT
I CAN
SEND THE ORIGINAL DRAFT TO YOU. MY BOSS IS PRESENTLY IN
INDONESIA FOR
INVESTMENT PROJECTS. HE REITERATED THAT HE DIDN'T FORGET YOU=92RE
PAST
EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST HIM IN TRANSFERRING THOSE FUNDS
DESPITE THAT
IT FAILED YOU SOMEHOW.

NOW GET IN TOUCH SO THAT I CAN SEND YOU THE CERTIFIED
INTERNATIONAL
BANK DRAFT OF TOTAL $1,200.000, WHICH MY BOSS KEPT FOR YOUR
COMPENSATION FOR ALL THE PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST
HIM IN THIS
MATTER. HE APPRECIATED YOUR EFFORTS AT THAT TIME VERY MUCH. SO
FEEL FREE AND
GET IN TOUCH WITH ME AND INSTRUCT ME WHERE TO SEND THE DRAFT TO
YOU.

YOURS FAITHFULLY
USMAN KABIRU










=A1Vive la pasi=F3n del f=FAtbol! Toda la Copa Am=E9rica, en Starmedia =
http://pan.segundosfuera.com/copaamerica/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam