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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "AUSTIN THOMAS" <mraustinthomas020@ig.com.br>
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:53:43 -0700
Subject: I CAN HONESTLY HELP YOU OUT FOR REAL


*My Dear, *


*My name is Mr Austin Thomas , and i work with the Apex Bank of Africa
,precisely CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC as a Manager in(Telex/Computer
Section) . I am incharge of all Payment into Foreign Bank Account.I will
help you IF you would not deny me after i helped you for real.**
As i was going through the computer this morning ,i saw your name and your
unpaid fund (Draft cheque ) which has been kept for quite some time now
unpaid due to some outstanding payments you need to offset before receiving
yout payment or before your fund could be transferred to you,though this
your payment was sometime discussed with our Director, but this information
i want to give to you now , do not discuss it with our Director as i will
not be happy if you do and i will abandon it as soon as you inform him about
this development .*


*You see , i am ready to credit this your money into you bank account just
of Free Of Charge (FOC)since i am incharge here, i am given you 100%
Assurance that i can do this for you, but on the ground that you will give
me 5% of the total sum IMMEDIATELY this fund is credited into your account
just as soon as the credit is effected , i will cover up every tracing point
about this fund so that no one could trace or find out about this fund
again. You know this thing i am embarking on is illegal, but i want to take
the risk so that i will make some money to establish good business out
there.**
Please if the above sugestion is ok by you ,do reply me immediately i will
inform you about the next step .
Note that the hard disc for all foreign payments is only one and there is no
way i can use the same disc to credit your account to avoid any trace and on
that ground you will have to buy a hard disc in your country and send to me
so that i will transmit all your file into it and later use it to credit
your account.You don't need to spend money any more before you receive your
money except the hard disc you will buy and send to me. *


*I would have asked you to send money to buy it here in africa, but for the
fact that it will be cheaper in your country than here, hence i wanted you
to buy it there and send it to me.The name of the hard disc is (Supio H4)
and please do not buy any one made in taiwan, the best is the one made in
England ok please take note, and what is needed is just one hard disc only
to execute this transaction ok.This hard disc is used for crediting of an
account, only use in the bank and financial houses . Just buy it and send it
to me immediately so that before the next 48hrs the job will be completed.**
Thanking you in advance for your understanding and your urgent response will
be truely appreciated.
Please reply this mail immediately you receive it for more explanation.*


*Yours sincerely**
Mr. Austin Thomas
(CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN)
*

*NB: PLEASE REPLY ME ONLY THROUGH THIS MY PRIVATE EMAIL HERE (**
mraustin_thomas99@live.fr*<http://us.mc464.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mraustin_thomas99@live.fr>
*) FOR SECURITY REASON OK. *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam