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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.

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:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. )
  • "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 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.
• 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.
  • +447024061037 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Scott Smith" <sscomplc@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 14:53:17 +0100
Subject: Job Offer Proposal


*SCOTT SMITH
FLOOR 4&5, NEWTON HOUSE,
132, NEW BOND STREET,
LONDON, W1S2UD,
ENGLAND.
+447024061037

Hello,
My name is Scott Smith, Here is a brief introduction of myself. I am an
artist.I live London UK, with my two kids. It is definitely a full house, I
have been doing artwork since I was a small child That gives me about 23
years of experience I majored in art in high school and took a few college
art courses Most of my work is done in either pencil or art brush mixed with
color pencils.
I have recently added designing and creating artwork on the computer, I have
been selling my art for the last 3 years and have had my work featured on
trading cards, prints and in magazines, I have sold in galleries and to
private collectors from all around the world. I am always facing serious
difficulties when it comes to
selling my art works to Americans, they are always offering to pay with
MONEY ORDER , CASHER'S CHEQUE etc, which is difficult for me to cash here in
London UK . I am looking for a representative in the U.S.A who will be
working for me as a part time worker and i will be willing to pay 10% for
every transaction as benefits and $2,000 a month which wouldn't affect your
present state of work, someone who would help me receive payments from my
customers in the U.S.A.
I mean someone that is responsible and reliable, because the cost of coming
to over there and getting payments is very expensive, I am working on
setting up a branch in the U.S.A, so for now i need a representative in the
U.S.A who will be handling the payment aspect for our company.
These payments are in MONEY ORDERS,CASHER'S CHEQUE etc and they would come
to you in your name if you are willing to assist as a representative, so all
you need do is cash the money order or cashiers cheque deduct your
percentage
and WESTERN UNION Charges then wire the rest back. But the problem i have is
trust,you are to receive the MONEY ORDERS OR CASHIER'S CHEQUE PAYMENT which
will be sent to you by courier services from my clients and customers, you
are to take it to the bank to enable you cash it and send the money cashed
to me via WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM After deducting your commission which
is 10% of the amount of payment.

NOTE: All charges of the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER will be deducted from
the money, so you are rest assured that you wouldn't spend a dine out of
your personal money.
If you are interested, please get back to me with the following infos for
our records:-

1.) Full Names
2.) Home/Cell Phone number
3.) Full Home Address, City, State and Zip Code.
4.) GENDER

Thanks for your anticipated assistant and God bless..
Regards.
Scott Smith.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam