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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
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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. )
• 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.
  • tobefatajames22@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: johnmark4@freenet.de
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:57:05 +0100
Subject: DEAREST FRIEND


DEAREST FRIEND
I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT
MY SUCCESS IN
GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERED. NOW I WANT YOU TO CONTACT MY
SECRETERY ON
THE INFORMATION BELOW AND RECEIVE YOUR COMPENSATION OF
$1.2.000.000 US
DOLLARS FROM HIM:
NAME....: Mr TOBEFATA JAMES
EMAIL:
(tobefatajames22@yahoo.fr)
SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO PROVE
YOURSELF TO HIM:
YOUR FULL NAME;...............................
YOUR
ADDRESS:.................................
YOUR
COUNTRY:................................
YOUR
AGE:........................................
YOUR
OCCUPATION:................................
YOUR PHONE
NUMBER:.............................

NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HIM
THE ABOVE INFORMATION COMPLETE, HE
WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHEQUE TO YOU
BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE SURE THAT IT IS
YOU.ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL
SUM OF$1.2.000. 000 US DOLLARS
CASHIER\'S CHEQUE, WHICH I KEPT FOR
YOU.

NOTE ALSO THAT I WILL NOT BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE FOR NOW

BECAUSE I AM CORRENTLY AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE WITH MY SHARE AND I

WILL BE BUSY TILL ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME OR A YEAR.
NAME....: TOBEFATA
JAMES
EMAIL: (tobefatajames22@yahoo.fr)
REGARDS,
Dr,JOhn mark

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam