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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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.

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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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • f_duke2000@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "femiola duke" <femiola_duke@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:52:09 +0000
Subject: MONEY TRANSFER

FROM:FEMIOLA DUKE
E-mail: f_duke2000@yahoo.co.uk
Greeting,
This letter might surprise you because we have met neither in person none by
correspondence, but I believe it is one day that you get to know Somebody
either in physical or through correspondence.
I am the first son of His Royal Majesty,WIWA DUKE and the traditional ruler
of Eleme Province in the oil area of Rivers State. I am making this contact
to you in respect of US 25,000,000.00(twenty five million United States
Dollars) which was paid to my late father as compensation by the oil firms
located in our area. Unfortunately my father died from protracted diabetes.
But before his death he called my attention and informed me that he lodged
this funds on two boxes with a security firm with an open beneficiary status
( a foriegn partner). So this is the main reason why I am contacting you for
you to stand as the the ultimate beneficiary, so that the funds can be
moved from the security company by your name and particulary to any country
of your choice where it will be claimed and invested.
Based on this I and my family have unanimously decided to give you 20% of
the total money and hereby guarantee you that this is not government money,
it is not drug money and it is not money from arms deal.
Though you have to maintain high degree of confidentiality on this matter,I
hope this will be the beginning of a prosperous relationship between my
family and your family.
Nevertheless if you are for any reason not interest,kindly inform me
immediately so that I can look for another contact.
I am waiting for your quick response.
Yours faithfully
Femiola Duke

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam