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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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.

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:
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • d_montero07@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Vape Foundation" <vapefounds@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:20:39 +0100
Subject: Attn:


Webster Dixon LLP
Fourth Floor
Thavies Inn House
3-4 Holborn Circus
London EC1N 2HA

Dear Client,

We have been awaiting your establishing contact with us as regards transfer
of your funds amounting $1,000,000. 00 USD. The Vape Foundation Via Gramsci,
41 40050 Funo (Bologna) Italy website: http://www.vapefoundation.org/, a
foundation working in Conjunction With The Economic Community For West
African States, United Nations Organization And The European Union, who came
to our chambers last week to hand your cheque to us. The objective is to
make a notable change in the standard of living of people all around the
universe (from America to Europe, Asia to Africa and all around). The Vape
Foundation has been assured of highest organization standard courtesy of the
United Nations.

Based on the random selection exercise of internet websites and millions of
supermarket cash invoices worldwide, you were selected among the lucky
recipients to receive the award sum of $1,000,000.00 (One Million United
States Dollars) As Charity Donations/aid from the Vape Foundation, ECOWAS,
EU and the UN in accordance with the enabling act of parliament. (Note that
all beneficiaries email addresses were selected randomly from over 100,000
internet websites or a shop's cash invoice around your area in which you
might have purchased something from). They already made provision for our
services and settled all bills of litigation.

They did not specify when you shall be making contact and for a fact we
expected you to have contacted us via mail to confirm our possessing your
cheque. All you need to do right now to proceed is reconfirm your contact
co-ordinates - full names, address, country and most important your phone
number.

Full names:
Address:
State:
Zip:
Country:
Sex:
Age:
Occupation:
E-mail address:
Telephone number:

Reply us with the afore-requested details. We will have to send Vape
Foundation a mail to the effect that you have made contact regarding the
cheque they left you.

Del Montero
E-mail: d_montero07@yahoo.it

Regards

Ms. Mary King

Secretary

Webster Dixon LLP DISCLAIMER: This message is for the designated recipient
only and may contain privileged, proprietary, or otherwise private
information. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete the original. Any other use of this e-mail by you is
prohibited.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam