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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.

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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:
  • "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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. 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. )
  • "money order " (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024038681 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: DAVID GRANT <ddg0@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ddg_uk1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:56:24 +0100
Subject: Representative Needed



OFFICE: KAYU BRAHMADYA COMPANY21 Llanover road plum steadSE18 3ST London.+447024038681Hello, Good day to you, my name is MR DAVID GRANT, I am an artist , and the owner of KAYU BRAHMADYA COMPANY .I live and work in London with my two kids andmy wife. It is definitely a full house. I have been into artwork/Furniture since childhood. That gives me years of experience. I majored in Art inhigh school and took a few college Art courses. Most of my work are done in either pencil or airbrush mixed with color pencils and Furnitures . Ihave recently added designing, ancient antiquities and creative artworks on the computer. I have been selling my art/Kayu Brahmadya Furniture for the last 3 years and I have had my work featured on trading cards, prints and in magazines. I have sold some of my art works to some private companies in United States of America .But I do face some difficulties when it comes to Payment , because all my customers in America always offer to pay me with U.S POSTAL MONEY ORDERS or CHECKS, and I find it very difficult to cash them in London, This is because the British Government does not permit the usage of U.S POSTAL MONEY ORDERS in Britain. Right now, I'm searching for a representative in United States that will be able to cash the MONEY ORDERS in America and wire the available fundsto me in Britain.Who to trust are my problems. I've series of arrangements with the FBI in Washington, in attempt for anyone to make away with my funds; definitely the law will catch-up with him, and he will definitely face the consequences.You are entitled to 10% commission for any transaction(that is for any money order or checks cashed ).This transaction is risk free and legalfrom the American Government. Please get back to me with your Complete Name,Residential Address and Telephone Number if you are interested.Once again this transaction is100% risk free and legal from the United States Government and the British Government, so feel free about this transaction and get back to me with the required information's to enable us proceed. Thanks for going through this proposal.My warmest Regards and thanks for your anticipated assistant,MR DAVID GRANT.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam