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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: roland johnson <rolandjohnson2003@web.de>
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:19:50 +0200
Subject: NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY,




Dear Friend,

Long ago, I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Certified International bank of $1.750.000 United States Dollars, but to no avail. Having waited for long I contacted the bank where the Draft was issued to enquire if it has expired or getting closer. The Operation Manager of the issuing bank disclosed that the expiring date is almost at hand and the Draft will be ineffective before it gets to your waiting hands.


I advised him to convert the Cheque to fiscal cash, package it on trunk and I saved it with Trans-world Diplomatic Courier Service without letting them know the original contents. This is because I did not want the Draft to loose its value under the umbrella of expiration as I will be out of country for four months course. Base on the Post Graduate course, I will be back to the country on August 2008.


You are advised to contact the Courier Company as soon as possible to know when the delivery will taka place I have paid for the delivering Charge, None Inspection fee and insurance Insurance Premium.The only money you will pay before the delivery will take place is ($175.00 US) One Hundred & Seventy-Five United States Dollars only for Security Keeping. I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage. Having reach the Courier Company,


Contact details of the Operation Manager of the Courier Company read thus:


Name: Mr.Samuel Mensah.
E-mail Id:samuelmensah2008@yahoo.cn


I am waiting for your urgent response.

Yours Faithfully,

Hon.Roland Johnson



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam