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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:
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "willy111 111" <willy111_3@msn.com>
Reply-To: williams_ore111@myway.com
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2006 10:40:23 +0000
Subject: EMPLOYMENT ONLINE APPLY ASAP

Dear Sir/Madam,
Would you like to work online from home and get paid weekly ?
H & L LIMITED needs a book-keeper in the state,so I want to know if you will
like to work online from home and get paid weekly without leaving or
affecting your present job?


I presently run a textile and fabrics firm I inherited from my late Dad in
the UK and we need someone to work for the company as a representative/book
keeper in the states.My company produces various clothing materials, batiks,
assorted fabrics and traditional costume which we have clients we supply
weekly in the states.


My clients make payments for our supplies every week in form of 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
these
payments from our clients and we will pay him weekly salary.


ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS RECEIVE THESE PAYMENTS FROM OUR CLIENTS IN THE STATES
SINCE THEY WILL BE ISSUED IN YOUR NAME,GET IT CASHED IN YOUR BANK THEN
DEDUCT YOUR WEEKLY PAY AND FOWARD THE BALANCE TO THE COMPANY DOWN HERE .SO
ALL I NEED IS TO FOWARD YOUR INFORMATIONS TO
OUR CLIENTS IN THE STATES AND THEY ISSUE PAYMENTS IN FORM OF MONEY
CHECKS/ORDERS, THEN SEND IT TO YOU VIA MAIL OR COURIER.


I will need your full name,residential address and phone/fax number so we
can foward it to our clients and they will start making payments to you as
the company' s
representative in the states.


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


I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.


Warmest Regards,
Williams Orellana,
CEO H & L Fabrics & textiles



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam