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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:

• 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. 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. )
  • "cheques " (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.
  
• 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: SWISS BANK ENGLAND <swiss_bank_england01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:38:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT:(Emestine Hoch)


Attn: Ms Emestine Hoch,

You make the payment so that your winning cheque can be delivered to you within 24hrs time in Germany.

The Swiss Bank Cheque clearing process is a fairly time consuming procedure and the following article will explain how winning cheques are cleared and why it is such a lengthy process.

NOTE: Please: We must correct a notion here, pay your Delivery charges as instructed and stop the delay for we cannot be liable to paying you after the stipulated time is over and we must remind you that the time giving for claims is almost over now. So we urge you to stop pronning this situation to a risk becuase of your delay. We hope you are clear now, if yes? then go ahead and send your charges as instructed.

You are to make the payment through Western Union Money Transfer so as to speed up the process of delivery. You are to locate the nearest western union agent to you and make the payment through the name of our Delivery officer below:

Name of Office,,,,Mrs Jane Mark
Bank Address,,,,Gresham Street London EC2V 7NG.

You are to send the following details as soon as you make the payment

1.Full Name:
2.Address of Sender:
3.Amount sent :
4.Control number(MTCN)
5.Test question and answer (if any) :

Send your payment information to us so that we can send your winning cheque to you.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE MORE!!!

We are waiting for your response.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr John Cole.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam