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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:
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: james martins <jamesmartins_0002@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <jamesmartins004@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:37:41 +0100
Subject: FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION



DESK OF MR.JAMES MARTINSMANAGER,FOREIGN OPERATIONS,UNION BANK NIGERIA PLCATTENTION : BENEFICIARY FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATIONThis is to inform you that the meeting we held on Monday 2nd July.2007 with our board of directors and trustees of the Union Bank in conjunction with the World Bank Auditors and The United Nations delegates revealed that all our foreign payment settlement should be settled through a diplomatic means. We have concluded every arrangement with the UNITED NATIONS diplomats who are traveling from West Africa-Nigeria to America to deliver consignments to our beneficiary's in United States and north and south America and all over the world.This is because of too many complaints we received from our foreign customers on how some people are diverting their fund to another account overseas. Listen We made this arrangement very easier to some of our customer's while you are one of them and the diplomats did not know what is inside the consignment.We told them that what is inside is the books of psalms bibles.Do not let them know that the contents of the boxes is money so that they will not run away with it,this is for security reasons. This is the only mode of payment we have for now for our customers because we can not make any wire transfer (KTT) now because of our financial obligations with the World bank and United Nations and of the Swiss Banks also to avoid wrong transmission of fund. You should respond to this message so that we can forward to you the name of the diplomat in charge who will contact you for the delivery of your consignment when they arrive your country and also inform you their arrival date and time. You are therefore advised to reconfirm your proper address and your correct phone numbers preferably your cell phone by return mail where the diplomats will deliver the consignment to your door steps.They are going for about five states/cities in US and four countries in North and south America, and other countries of the world to deliver the consignments. For your information,the code numbers of the two boxes will be given to you when you respond to this message.Please confirm the receipt of this message N/B if you need your fund through Bank draft or cheque you indicate by sending your full Name, address and your telephone number as well. We are sorry for the inconveniences this might have caused you.Thanks for your co-operation.Regards,MR.JAMES MARTINSManager,Foreign Operations,Union Bank p l c .
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam