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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "certified bank draft" (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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • frank_kelly2000@inmail24.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "george williams" <george_williams3@klikni.cz>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 02:14:32 +0200
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY URGENTLY FOR YOUR COMPENSATION


Attn;My Dear
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred
under the cooperation of a new partner from Panama. Presently i'm in Panama
for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. meanwhile,i
didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring
those funds despite that it failed us some how.
Now contact my secretary in Benin with the below information

Name: Mr Frank Kelly
EMAIL;frank_kelly2000@inMail24.com

Ask him to send you the certified bank draft of $1.8M which i kept for you
as a compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this
matter. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. so feel free and
get in touched with my secretary Mr Frank and instruct him where to send the
Draft to you.
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the
joy after all the sufferness at that time. in the moment, Iam very busy here
because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having
at hand, finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to the secretary
on your behalf to receive that money, so feel free to get in touch with
Frank Kelly, he will send the draft to you without any delay.

Regards,

MR George Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam