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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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)
  • "cashiers check" (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)
• 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.
• MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
  • anthony1_smith@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ANTHONY SMITH <anthony1_smith@walla.com>
Reply-To: anthony1_smith@excite.com
Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 18:33:35 -0700
Subject: U.S REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED:EMPLOYMENT OFFER!


Smith holdings needs a book-keeper/company representative in the states. This project has been developed in a way not to affect your present job nor bring you any form of stress but in order to help take care of those extra costs.

Smith Holdings is a small company that deals in the production various clothing materials, batiks, assorted fabrics and traditional costumes that was passed across to me from my late grand mother.
On my take over of the company it came to my knowledge that there are a lot of lapses in handling funds that come in from the states which come in forms of cashiers checks, company checks and money orders 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 various clients which come in on a weekly, monthly and annual basis.
This is why we decided to get a representative over in the states to help us pick up our payments at your contact address you shall be providing us, in order to process our payment from our clients.
ALL U NEED TO DO IS RECEIVE THIS PAYMENTS FROM OUR CLIENTS IN THE STATES GET IT CASHED IN UR BANK THEN DEDUCT UR PERCENTAGE (10% OF EACH PAYMENT) AND FORWARD THE BALANCE OVER TO THE COMPANY'S FINANCE DIRECTOR VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEYGRAM BALANCE TO THE COMPANY DOWN HERE VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
Our payments will be issued out in your name, as we would inform our clients to do.

Therefore the following details would be needed:
Full name:
Occupation:
Age:
Nationality/Race:
Marital Status:
Sex:
Direct Telephone Number:
Full contact address and zip code(not p.o box)

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 U A LETTER OF EMPLOYMENT FROM OUR COMPANY, WHICH YOU HAVE TO REPLY WITH AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER AND A SCANNED COPY OF UR INDETIFICATION ATTACHED TO IT.
AS SOON AS WE CONFIRM ANY PAYMENT COMING TO U I WILL LET U KNOW AND I WILL GIVE U THE INFORMATION TO SEND FUNDS TO THE COMPANY VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

Please Reply to my private email address:anthony1_smith@excite.com

I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

Warmest Regards,
ANTHONY SMITH,
CEO /managing director
Smith Holdings Fabrics & textiles

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam