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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. 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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • trustlink02@mailbox.hu

Fraud email example:

From: trustlink1 <trustlink1@orange.nl>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:01:23 +0100 (CET)
Subject: YOUR AWAITING PAYMENT.


HELLO DEAR ,

THEIR IS GOOD NEWS TODAY, BECAUSE WE JUST RECEIVED INSTRUCTION FROM BARRISTER, WILLIAM COLE, TO CONTACT YOU TODAY.

AS YOU KNOW, BEFORE BARRISTER, WILLIAM COLE, LEFT THIS COUNTRY HE
DEPOSITED A CASHIER'S CHECK OF (800,000.00) EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND USD
WITH US, HOPING THAT YOU WILL CONTACT THIS COMPANY AND RECEIVED IT BUT
SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU BUT THERE WAS KNOW
CONTACT FROM YOU.

THE GOOD NEWS TODAY IS THAT BARRISTER WILLIAM COLE, HAVE CONTACTED US
BACK WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS ASKING THIS COMPANY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
YOU, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN RESTLESSLY WAITING FOR YOUR MAIL.

ACTUALLY YOU ARE THE RIGHTFUL BENEFICIARY OF THE CASHIER CHECK, WITH
CODE (2661428) AS IT WAS IN OUR RECORD, KINDLY FILL THE BELOW FORM AND
REPLY BACK ASAP, CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU REPLY THIS MAIL TO ENABLE US ACT
FAST.

RECONFIRM THIS BELOW INFORMATION BACK TO US.

1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3. YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER:

BARRISTER WILLIAM COLE, HAS PAID FOR THE DELIVERING CHARGES OF 475
UNITED STATE DOLLARS SINCE LAST YEAR, THE ONLY MONEY YOU HAVE TO PAY
NOW IS THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE WHICH IS ONLY 85 US DOLLARS, AND YOU
RECEIVED YOUR CHECK, DON'T BE DECEIVED BY ANYBODY, SO RECONFIRM IN OTHER
FOR YOU RECEIVED YOUR CHECK.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.

MR. STEPHEN MARTIN.
TRUST LINK COURIER SERVICE.
trustlink02@mailbox.hu
PHONE: 0022990068924

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam