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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:

• 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. )
• 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.
  • chrisnwa2000@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: williams ibru <williams1x4@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 09:46:17 -0700
Subject: MY SINCERE APPRECIATION


Dear Friend,

Seasons greeting to you, i hope all is well together with your family,if so glory be to God almighty.
I am very happy to inform you that i have succeeded in transferring
those funds out of my Country (Nigeria) with the help of a new
partner from Osaka Japan,though it did not work as planned on your side
due to one reason or the other.
I appreciate greatly your understanding and concern,especially the
effort you made to assist me In fulfiment of that I made an
international Bank Draft cheque worth of $450,000.00 USD in your name
to compensate you for your past effort and attempt to assist me,
Now contact my account officer Mr.Christian Nwachukwu in my country.He will send you the Bank Draft immediately. Contact him on this E-mail: address
(chrisnwa2000@yahoo.fr)
I instructed him to release the draft to you
whenever you request for it. To help him identify you and confirm your
ownership of the money, please send him the following informations,
Your full name_____________
Your contact address______
Your phone no_____________
Your country name_________

Best Regards,

Senator Williams ibru
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam