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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.

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:
  • "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. )
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993013336 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • patcooljenny@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "fartoubbi04 Gazeta.pl" <fartoubbi04@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:29:42 +0200
Subject: YOUR COMPENSATION


Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day. It is my pleasure to reach you after our
unsuccessful attempt on our business transaction. Well, I just want to use
this medium to thank you very much for your earlier assistance to help me in
receiving the funds, without any positive outcome.

I am happy to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with
the help of a new partner from SRILANKA. Everything was perfectly done
because we struck a deal with a lady accountant who works with the Federal
Ministry of Finance, and she rendered a tremendous help to us. My new
partner initiated this idea and everything worked out successfully.

In appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the funds, I
have decided to compensate you with the sum of $1,250,000.00 (One Million
Two hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars only) through Cashier's
cheque. This is from my own share.

I did this simply to show appreciation to you for your kind support and
assistance even though we could not succeed due to some unforseen
circumstances and reason but it has been a gate way to my eventual success.
Presently, I am in South Korea for investment project with my own share
under the advice of my partner.

Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring this funds despite the fact that we could not succeed.

In the light of the above, you are therefore, to contact my office worker,
Mr PAT COOL JENNY on his email is ( patcooljenny@hotmail.fr ) call him
+229-9301-3336 and do send him your contact address where you want the
cheque to be send to you.

so feel free and get in touch with my secretary and instruct him where to
send the cheque as you know it was issued in a certified bank draft which
you will cash in any bank approved or owned by government of any country.
Send your full home address to him as listed below:

Your Full Name:::::::::::::::::::
Home address::::::::::::::::::::
Your Occupation::::::::::::::::::::::
Your current telephone number:::::::!:;::::::::
A copy of your picture or id card::::::::::::::::::::

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the
joy together after all the suffering at that time.

In the moment, I am very busy here in capital city of South Korea because of
the investment projects, which the new partner and I are having at hand.

So feel free to get in touch with him to send the cheque to you without any
delay at your own EXPENSES as I did not left any money with him for its
postage.

Best Regards,
Dr.Farto Ubbi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam