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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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)
  • "registration fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • usps01234@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "pastormorisego Gazeta.pl" <pastormorisego@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 05:11:06 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THE UPS COMPANY IMMEDIATELY


Dear friend,
Happy day/night, this is to inform you due to your inablity to send the
registration fee of your cheque of( $1,5million usd), ( One million and
five hundred thousand united state dollar)) as requested by delivering
company,i have waited for months now yet no result, i then decided to
involve the issued bank to avoid losing of the funds since my boss is yet to
returned.
When i got to the bank ,the director told me that the cheque has three weeks
to expire that after three weeks it will be invalid then i told the director
to convert the check into cash to avoid losing of the money but he said i
have to hire a lawyer before that can be done since the beneficaiy that the
cheque was on his or my boss that signed the cheque is not here ,a lawyer
will be involve for the signing and the procurement of vital documents
needed for that.
Now am just confused because i don't have the money for that but i have no
choice than to hire a lawyer who will assist me on this matter as i was told
by the bank to signed for the convertion of your cheque .
After meeting with the bank lawyer who looked into the matter he told me
that he will arrange for the documents as well as the signings for the bank
to covert the cheque into cash payment but he said i should pay him
$2,500.00 for the job , then i explained to him that i don't have the money
but pleaded with him that as soon as the job is done , then the money will
deducted for his payment before anything .


He accepted , then i told him to proceed with the job .
The bank director also assured me that after the convertion of your check ,
the money will be packaged and deposited with the bank official security
company for save keeping as well as the delivering of your package to your
home address .


Am happy to inform you that the job has been done , the cheque has been
converted into cash and is right there with United State Parcel Service for
deliver, remember the package is registered as family valuables for security
reasons and with a seal on it for security reasons .
You can find the code number beside the package , there is a place in it
they wrote ARS , when you open it through that side you will see the code .


Contact the company today on this informations bellow:
Company Name : United State Parcel Service(USPS)Security Department .
Contact Person: Mr SAM NELSON :
Email:(usps01234@yahoo.fr)



Note ; your package was register as family valuables , in no condition will
you will disclose the real content of your package to anybody till you
receive it in your home for security reasons,Email the company , tell them
your name , tell them that your agent register your package with them for
deliver ok you can tell them my name .

I also want to let you know that the only money you have to send to them is
there security and vat fee of your package inother to received your package
So freely and it will not be more than ($125.00 U.S.D)(One hundred and
twenty five dollar).


Remember they will ask you for followings :
Your Full Name ................
Your Home Address..............
Your corrent Phone Numbers ..............home
Your Cel Numbers...............
You personal identification............


While contacting them includes these informations for avoid any further
delays in delivering ok .
Meanwhile i will be waiting to hear from you after your discussion with them
.
I also want to remained that $300.00 was deducted from the total sum and
this amount includes the registration and insurance cover $500.00 and
$2,500.00 of the barrister that did the job .
Best Regards,

PASTOR MORIS EGO.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam