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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "money orders " (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. )
  • "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. 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 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.
• 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.
  • maxwellpeter_mp@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Maxwell Peter <maxwellpeter_mp2@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: maxwellpeter_mp@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 12:13:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ASAP !!!


Hello Friend

My company MAXWELL UNIVERSAL FARMS AND COTTON COMPANY produces various clothing materials, batiks, assorted fabrics and traditional costume which we have clients we supply weekly in the states.Quite soon we will open representative offices or authorized sales centers in the USA/Canada and therefore we are currently looking for people who will assist us in establishing a newdistribution! Network there. The fact is that despite the USA/Canada market is new for us we already have regular clients also speaks for itself.

Our Buyers (Customers) make payments for our supplies every week in
form of Money Order and Online Check which are not readily cashable
outside the United States,so we need someone in the States to work as our
representative and assist us in processing the payments from our clients
and i will pay him weekly salary.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS RECEIVE THIS PAYMENTS FROM OUR CLIENTS IN THE STATES GET IT CASHED IN YOUR BANK THEN DEDUCT YOUR WEEKLY PAYMENT AND FORWARD THE BALANCE TO THE COMPANY DOWN HERE VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

Our payments will be issued out in your full name and you can get
them cashed in your bank as these is the only pace my company can be safe
as to let you cash the money orders or the online check and you will
then need to deduct your weekly salary and forward the balance to the
company via western union money transfer,

You don't have to go out as you will work as an independent contractor right from your home office. Your job is absolutely legal. You can earn up to $10000-$20000 monthly depending on time you will spend for this job. You do not need any capital to start. You can do the Work easily without leaving or affecting your present Job. The employees who make efforts and work hard have a strong possibility to become managers. Anyway our employees never leave us.

SO ALL I NEED IS TO FORWARD YOUR INFORMATIONS TO OUR CLIENTS IN THE STATES AND THEY ISSUE PAYMENTS IN FORM OF MONEY ORDERS THEN SEND IT TO YOU VIA MAIL OR COURIER.

I will need your Full name, Residential Address and Phone Number so
we can forward it to our clients and they will start making payments to
you as the company' Representative in the states.

I WILL EMAIL YOU A LETTER OF EMPLOYMENT FROM OUR COMPANY WHICH YOU HAVE TO REPLY WITH AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER AND A SCANNED COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION ATTACHED TO IT.

AS SOON AS WE CONFIRM ANY PAYMENT COMING TO YOU I WILL LET YOU KNOW AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION TO SEND FUNDS TO THE COMPANY VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
maxwellpeter_mp@yahoo.co.uk

Warmest Regards,
MAXWEL PETER.
MAXWELL UNIVERSAL FARMS AND COTTON COMPANY
380 Kensington High Street,
London, W14 8NL


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam