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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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• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million us 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)
  • "10% will be kept aside for expenses" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Baltz Gustav." <baltzgustav@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 19:00:45 +0800
Subject: Looking Forward To Hearing From You

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Baltz Gustav I am a retired American soldier, I served in
the military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq , we were posted to
leave Iraq and go back to Germany . I am now in UK at the mean time, I
and my superior moved funds belonging to Saddam Hussein, the total is
$5,000,000.00 (Five million US dollars) this money is being kept safe in a
Finance Treasure keeping Company. Click on this link to read about
even that took place here:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
Basically since we are working for the government we cannot keep these
funds, but we want to transfer and move the funds to you, so that you
can keep it for us in your safe account or an offshore account.
We will divide the total funds in three ways, since we are 3 that are
involved. This means that you will take 30%, I will take 30%, and my
superior will take 30%. 10% will be kept aside for expenses. This business
is confidential, and it should not be discussed with anyone. There is
no risk involved whatsoever. If you are interested I will send you the
full details, my job is to find a good partner that we can trust and
that will assist us.

Regards


Baltz Gustav.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam