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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.

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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:
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • marypowell023@yahoo.dk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: marypowell023@yahoo.dk
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:08:40 GMT
Subject: Contact Marry Powell For Your Bank Draft of $800.000.00 USD


Greetings,

I am Mrs Mary Powell,a staff of the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE here in west Africa,.We have
been waiting for you since to contact us for your Confirmable Bank Draft of $800.000.00 United
States Dollars that was deposited with our company, but we did not hear from you since
that time.I will be traveling out from the country for two Months Course and I will not come back
till end of January 2009. What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as soon
as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date. For
your information, the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the
Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country
has already been paid for.You have to contac the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery
of your Draft with this information bellow;
Contact Person: Mr. Donald White
Email Address:marypowell023@yahoo.dk
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your postal address and Direct telephone number to them .
Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay
of extra demurrage You should also let me know through email as Soon as you receive your Draft.

Yours Faithfully,
Mary Powell

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam