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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  • +447045790016 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704797787 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • johnrobert121@o2.pl

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN ROBERT" <familymail27@mail.mn>
Reply-To: johnrobert121@o2.pl
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:49:50 -0700
Subject: RE:YOUR PAYMENT OF $800,000 IS READY 10/6/2008.


From: The Desk of
Mr. John Robert.
Tel: +44 70457 90016,
Fax: +44 870 479 7787
Email: johnrobert121@o2.pl


Attn: Beneficiary,

I am Mr. John Robert Jr, Corporate Services Division and Head of Swift
Transfer Unit of Saderat Bank Plc payment center London England. Sometime
ago, in our bank your inheritance fund was brought to our bank from National
Lotto Group here in Europe and after some period, the money was taken back
to their treasury.

But for the period of time this money was in our bank, it generated an
interest of US$800,000.00 which we are about to pay you Via International
Certified Bank Draft through our corresponding Bank in US.(Bank of
America).For your information and advice, you need to hasten up to pick this
Fund because from time to time the National Lotto Group auditors do come to
our Bank to cross-check our files and our Financial update, the earlier you
comply with the demands of the delivery of the fund, the faster the action,
because when the auditors arrive and find out that this interest Fund is
still in our Bank they will call back the accrued interest to the lotto
treasury account.

What we need from you now is any form of your identification for example,
your E- International passport or your driver's license, your Telephone and
Fax numbers for easy communication to you with your Mailing Address where
this Draft will be delivered. As a matter of fact we don't have enough time
to waste since we have wasted time in contacting you so try and comply with
the entire necessary requirement for the Transaction. CALL ME ON THIS NUMBER
FOR MORE DIRECTIVES Tel: +44 70457 90016.

Once I hear from you today I will immediately for it to our Account
Department for clearance.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr. John Robert.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam