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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:
  • "money transfer control number" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
• 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: inlandrevenuetax office <inlandtaxoffice_taxoffice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 14:01:15 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE BEEN CLEARED FOR PAYMENT(AWAITING PAYMENT INFORMATION)






DEAR Nadja Osterzer,

YOU ARE HEREBY REQUESTED TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OUTLET CLOSE TO YOU IMMEDIATELY IN THE NAME OF OUR ACCOUNTS OFFICER.

MRS HELEN JOHNSON


Name of receiver: MRS HELEN JOHNSON
12 Ground Floor,Amburst Service,London E8 2BT,
United Kingdom.

IMMEDIATELY PAYMENT IS MADE,DO SEND US THE INFORMATION SUCH AS

SENDER'S NAME (FIRST AND LAST NAME:)
AMOUNT SENT:
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER(MTCN):


IMMEDIATELY PAYMENT IS CONFIRMED.YOUR PARCEL WILL BE RELEASED BY THIS OFFICE AND A CERTIFICATE OF CLEARANCE WE ALSO BE ISSUED TO THE DELIVERY AGENT,AS YOU HAVE RIGHTLY DIRECTED .

AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS CONFIRM.YOUR PARCEL SHALL BE IMMIDIATELLY RELEASED WITHOUT ANY DELAY WE SHALL BE EXPECTING A SCAN COPY OF THE PAYMENT RECIEPT ALONG SIDE YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS FOR VERIFICATION.



Regards,

LARRY MORGAN.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam