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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
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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)
  • "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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <kevin98brown@live.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:09:54 +0000
Subject: Reply



Dear Friend, I am Mr.Kevin Brown, managing director of Taoprivatbank,one of the oldest and largest bank in Georgia. i have contact you because i want both of us to go into partnership,here in my office,the government had issued a chegue of 6.2 million usd to a foreigner contractor who died in his hotel room by a boomb blast during the crises between the russian entity and gorgian,unknow to the Georgia government that this foreign contractor had not retrieved his money before he was killed,Now the chegue is here in my office blank,this is where i need your partnership for this fund to the transfer to you as the foreigner,there is nothing to worry about as all i have to do is to fill in your name in the cheque deposited in my office here in Georgia and the fund will be transfered into your account within 10 Banking days.As soon as the transfer had been done,i will come over to meet with you in your country for the sharing proper,60% for me and 40% for you as the account owner.

All i want from you is your honest and sincerely cooporations.kindly provide me with. 1.Your Full Name.2.Your Mobile number3.Your contact address. immediately i receive your respond,i will furnish you more on how to go about this whole plan. Best Regards,Mr.Kevin Brown.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam