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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:
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: compensation.financeofficerfred@post.ro
Date: 25 Nov 2008 09:44:52 -0000
Subject: Re: Dear Beneficiary


Dear Beneficiary,


I want to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred
with the co-operation of a new partner from Paraguay who is an
international businessman. I am much delighted to contact you to let you
know that, the fund has been transferedinto my account. I have deposited
the sum of ($450,000.00, Four Hundred And Fifty Thousand US Dollars) to
the finance house,and I have issued a certified Bank Draft in your favor
cashable at your bank.


I want you to contact the CEO in charge of the finance house for the
collection of this international certified bank draft. In the person of
Mr. Fred Moses . contact him as soon as you receive this email with the
address below


COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE HEAD OFFICE
Contact The Manager: Mr Fred Moses
Contact Email: compensation.financeofficer101@post.ro
Office Tel: 009-234-7096009319


Try to contact him as soon as possible and reconfirm to him your Name and
address and your telephone numbers to avoid any mistakes while sending
your fund across to you.


You are to contact the COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE HEAD
OFFICE MANAGER via this email: -- compensation.financeofficerfred@post.ro


At the moment, I am very busy here and will not be able to come over until
August 2010. Remember that I have forwarded instruction to Mr. Fred Moses
at the finance house on your behalf to send the bank draft to as you may
instruct him to. Take note and bear in mind that the International Cashier
Bank Draft has a validity period of 30 banking days, as such it is
expedient you contact him in due course and thus have modality put in
place to conclude this arrangement in the earliest possible time.


He is to send the sum of $450,000.00 Four Hundred And FiftyThousand
Dollars bank draft to you.


I will want you to accept this token with good faith. You may be ask to
indicate this code: M581 when contacting him, it will prove your identity.


Thanks and God bless.
Sincerely,
Mr. Adam F. Zack

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam