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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.

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:
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
• 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.
  • victoryhold@yahoo.co.uk
  • changlee_cmiecsinosteel@yahoo.com
  • victoryhold01@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: victor martins <victoryhold01@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: vctholdings_04@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2006 19:38:51 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT FROM CHANG LEE


Dear Elisabeth Lehrer,

How are you today, thanks for your sincerity but i have to tell you that i have some problems now.My company was robbed on the 3rd of August and i have no access to the company's computers(all was taken away by the theives) but with the help of the my software engineer and the police department i was duely informed that you have written an e-mail to me telling me that you have cleared the cheque and that the theives have gotten access to all my clients and representatives and that they are trying all the possible means to get all my funds just like the one with you.

I am just returning from the police department and i have been given some instructions which i have to alert all my clients and my representatives.These are the instructions:

1. I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO OPEN A NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS TO RELATE WITH MY CLIENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES.
THIS IS THE REASON I'M USING THIS BOX TO E-MAIL YOU (victoryhold@yahoo.co.uk).ANY MAIL YOU RECIEVE NOW FROM Chang Lee (CMIEC) <changlee_cmiecsinosteel@yahoo.com> IS NO LONGER VALID.PLEASE BEAR WITH ME FOR ANY INCONVINIENCES.
This is the only way i can stop them from getting my fund.

2. The police advise me not to give out my bank account for security reasons.
With this latest development i will urge you to please bear with me and please neglect any mail you now recieve from changlee_cmiecsinosteel@yahoo.com to prevent you from falling into the hands of fraudsters.

I WILL WANT YOU TO SEND THE FUNDS IN BATCHES THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO MY INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER USING THE BELOW INFORMATIONS;

Name; Mark Owoh

Address; 05 bp palas hotel, cotonou

Country; Republic of Benin

Text question; What for?

Answer; Job offer

Ensure that you send the money in batches and send the MTCN WITH THE TRANSFER INFORMATIONS TO THIS BOX (victoryhold01@yahoo.co.uk) with the amount immediately you send it.

Dear Elisabeth,this is a very delicate situation for me.Any attempt for you not to follow this instructions will be leading to my company's bankrupcy and i believe you will not want this to happen.

Immediately you send the first batch of the payment i will instruct another client to send you another payment.

I WILL BE EXPECTING YOUR REPLY AS IM NOT MYSELF BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO LOSE ALL MY FUNDS.

yours sincerely,
Chang Lee.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam