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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.

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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:
  • "hundred thousand us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "frank umar" <frankumar20@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 19:00:59 +0100
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY


*Attn;My dear,

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transffered
under the cooperation of a new partner from paraguay. Presently i'm in
paraguay for investment projects with my own share of the total
sum.meanwhile,i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assit me in
transffering those funds despite that it failed us somehow.

Now contact my secretary in BENIN his name is JOHNSON ADAMS,his
email;(**johnsonadams@ymail.com* <johnsonadams@ymail.com>*) ask him to send
you the total $800.000.00 (EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS )certified bank
draft which i raised in your favour for your 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 intouched with my secretary and
give him youraddress 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, i'm 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 intouch with
JOHNSON without any delay.

Best regards,
Barr.Frank Umar.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam