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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
  (+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:
  • "demurrages " (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. )
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "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: "Mother Emily Olivier Jackman" <basurto@itesm.mx>
Reply-To: emiolivier@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:09:36 +0200
Subject: GREETINGS,

GREETINGS,

I am Mother Emily Olivier Jackman an ageing widow suffering from long time
illness and i have decided to render assistance to

the needy as a part of humanitarian services but my situation would not
permit me. Hence, I found your email address in the

internet and I have presently deposited a Cheque in the sum of 5,800,000.00
British Pound with FedEx express to deliver to

you upon your contact with them. You are to receive this money and have it
disposed on my behalf to the less privileges in

your location. And you are to take only 30% for work done and 70% to be disbursed
as charity.

This Charitable offer was agreed between My Husband and I when he was alive,
He died in a Plane crash on Monday the 7th of

September 1998 GMT 14:22 UK while they were flying from New York to Geneva.
Please see site below for more information.
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html

I am sorry to inform you that my communication capacity is very low and i
would not be able to communicate with you on your

next reply.

What you have to do now is to contact the FedEx Delivery SERVICE as soon
as possible to know when they will deliver your

package to you because of the expiring date. For your information, I have
paid for the delivering Charge, Insurance premium

and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug
Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your

Country. The only Money you are to pay to FedEx is the Security Keeping Fee
of the Cheque so far (£ 255.34 GBP); I was not

allowed to pay because they do not know when you will be contacting them
for the claim and to avoid unwarranted accumulation

demurrages for you.

Contact Information for the Claim of Your Cheque:
Contact Person: Mr. Mark Robbins
Email Address: fedexukd@live.co.uk

You are to reconfirm the below information to them;
Postal address:
Full Names:
Direct telephone number:
Occupation:
Security Keeping Code of the Cheque: (SCT/0433/UD)

On your contact with them do not hesitate to ask them to provide you with
the method they wish to use in receiving their

security keeping fee of £ 255.34 British Pounds for their immediate action.

Thanks for accepting to do this on my behalf.

Yours Affectionately,
Mother Emily Olivier Jackman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam