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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:
  • "cheques " (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 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.
• MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • robmerry17@yahoo.es

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Rob=20Merry?= <robmerry17@yahoo.es>
Reply-To: etexinfo@katamail.com
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 01:43:40 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: PART TIME JOB OFFER. (URGENT REPLY).


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a: robmerry17@yahoo.es



- My name is ROBERT MERRY I am the owner of RM FABRICS & TEXTILES COMPANY IN THE UK Presently,my company is looking for a trustworthy bookkeeper,representative in Canada/USA.An excellent opportunity to work at home part time and still keep your full time job.RM FABRICS & TEXTILES is a company that produces and sells Chinese and African textile and fabric material in London.Our company produces various clothing materials, batiks, assorted fabrics and traditional costumes.We have clients we supply weekly in the states.My clients make payments for our supplies every week by check which are not readily cashable outside of the US or Canada;so we need arepresentative to assist us in processing the payments. This will enable our cash to flow more quickly and therefore would not tie down our capital. I would be willing to employ you on contract basis to be my payment representative back in the states.I am involved in alot of travel and this way I could give my clients the authority to make the checks, money orders,Travellers Cheques etc out to you. You can then easily cash at your bank or cash point centers,then withdraw 10% of the total amount as your commission and send the rest back to me through Moneygram wire transfer OR Western Union wire transfer.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL FOR EMPLOYMENT PLEASE COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION AND LETTER OF EMPLOYMENT BELOW.I NEED YOU TO FILL THIS POSITION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON.JOB DESCRIPTION?1.RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM CLIENTS (delivered by FedEx or UPS you would need to be at your address to sign)2. CASH PAYMENTS AT YOUR BANK OR CASH POINT CENTERS.3.DEDUCT 10% WHICH WILL BE YOUR PERCENTAGE/PAY ON PAYMENT PROCESSED(Example $5000.00 you would deduct $500.00 pay the Moneygram fee OR Western Union fee out of the $4500.00 left and send remainder to my company.4.FORWARD BALANCE AFTER DEDUCTION OF PERCENTAGE/PAY TO MY COMPANY VIA(MONEYGARM TRANSFER OR WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER DEPENDING ON THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO YOU).RM FABRICS & TEXTILES APLICATION FORM Name:_,Last name:_,Address_,City:_,State:_,Zip code:_,Country_,Phone Number:_,Age:_,Nationality_,Marital Status:_,Sex:_,Occupation:_,Bank:_ *Please make sure your telephone # is correct -- I will need to call you when everything is in place.*If you are interested please email back with the application form.ATTESTATION:You will Follow to the rules as advised earlier in this e-mail and by Job Description.You will notify the company one week ahead if eventually you want to discontinue these funds from coming to your address in order to avoid conflict.If in agreement to this kindly append signature below.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam