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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
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cashier's check" (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. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: diplomatjohnson wilsonng1 <diplomatjohnsonwilsonng1@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 04:27:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT REPLY


FROM DIPLOMAT JOHNSON WILSON.
PLOT 302 MISUBO LANE
REPUBLIC OF COTONOU.

ATTN MR KARLEE BOSCH

THIS IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF YOUR MAIL WHICH IS AS A RESULT OF THE INSTRUCTION MY FRIEND LEFT WITH ME AS REGARDS THE 1.2MILLION CASHER'S CHECK ON YOUR BEHALF.

SIR, I AM WILLING AND READY TO SEND THIS CHECK TO YOU EITHER BY SWIFT TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT OR VIA COURRIER SERVICE TO YOUR ADDRESS IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHICH WAY YOU DEEM IT NECESSARY.

IF YOU WANT THE MONEY TO BE SENT VIA CASHIER'S CHECK YOU KINDLY SEND TO MY OFFICE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS,YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND YOUR PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION FOR SECURITY REASONS.

AGAIN IF YOU WANT IT VIA SWIFT TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT YOU DO ME A FAVOR BY RECONFIRMING TO ME YOUR BANK INFORMATIONS,YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND YOUR IDENTIFICATION.

ALL THIS INFORMATIONS ARE HIGHLY NEEDED IN ORDER TO HELP ME FACILITATE THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR COMPENSATION PAYMENT.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SUCH A HIGH AMOUNT BEFORE YOU CAN CLAIM YOUR MONEY AND MORE OVER YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SECURE ANY DOCUMENT AS REGARDS TO THIS PAYMENT EVERYTHING AS REGARDS TO THIS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.

IF YOU NEED THE MONEY BY CASHER'S CHECK OR SWIFT TRANSFER YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY SOME TOKEN AMOUNT BEFORE I CAN BE ABLE TO ACTUALISE YOUR PAYMENT TO YOU.

I WAIT FOR YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE IMMEDIATELLY,

THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION,
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DIPL JOHNSON WILSON.
NOTE:I AM NOT IN THE POSITION TO TELL YOU HOW I GOT YOUR EMAILL ADDRESS BUT I AM HERE TO DELIVER THE CASHER'S CHECK TO YOU IN YOU DEEM IT FIT


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam