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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:
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • grant.ozie@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "grantozie Gazeta.pl" <grantozie@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:44:10 +0200
Subject: An Urgent Private Mail To You.


Greetings!



First I must solicit your confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue
of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. Though I know
that a business of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and
worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.
There is no doubt that trust conceptually is a conundrum which leads itself
to deferring interpretation, I have decided to contact you due to the
urgency of this transaction.

Bearing in mind the nature of the content of this letter coming from a
person without any referral, I apologize for any inconvenience, but please
read and objectively consider if we can work together. Do know that this
claim will not be like the one you thought off and not a kind of someone
impersonating nor junk mail which will be done accordingly.

I am Mr.Grant Ozie. I am from the fedex delivery in Togo West Africa. I have
been monitoring a parcel here at our office since containing an ATM card of
US$2.3M AND A bank draft of us$800,000 United States Dollars,but I have
heard that the owner of the parcel just past away.

It is to be collected by a security Answer and I have It. It is
"Fredrick". This is where it involves you. The charge of delivery is 220USD,
I want you to pay the delivery fee and send me your address and the parcel
will be shipped to your address. Then you will cash the ATM card there and
the cheque at the bank and send me the sum of US$1.2M and you keep the rest
as your Share.

I have made arrangement showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to
sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country. If you want to pay for the
delivery and to process for the benefit of it this is my contact Mr Robert
Koko
email; grant.ozie@yahoo.co.uk

I have the informations leading to the the change of ownership or as the
beneficiary which autenticate everything.

Yours Sincerely?
Grant Ozie.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam