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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • mrs.rosehanks2@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mrs.rosehanks@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:33:11 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MY DEAR,I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: mrs.rosehanks2@yahoo.com



- Dear Friend, I apologize if the contents in this mail are contrary to your moral ethics, which I feel may be of great disturbance to your personal life, but please treat with absolute secrecy and personal and I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health.I pray God that this message reaches you in wonderful spirit as I am making this contact with you based on trust and confidence irrespective of the fact that we have not met before and because of the nature of the situation I found myself. I got your contact from web through personal endeavour and decided to contact. I believe my contacting you is not an ordinary coincidence because God can use any body known or unknown to accomplish great things which he has ordained.I am Rose Hanks , I was hospitalized after I had a car accident with my family, and I lost my husband and my two daughters who were also on board in the accident. After the accident, I have been battling with some health problems from the major injuries that I sustained in the cause of accident.Recently, my doctor told me that I have some few months to live due the surgery that was conducted. Though what disturbs is my presence predicament, due to the injuries that I sustained and damaged of my spinal cords in the accident. Having known my condition, I have decided to Willing/Donate the sum of $5.5 Million (Five Million, Five hundred thousand Dollars) to charity and individual through you for the good work of the lord, and to help the motherless, less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows. Because I am the only surviving person and nobody else that will inherit this money because they are now dead. I don't want a situation whereby this deposit will be confiscated and declared unserviceable by the officials of the finance company where it was deposited by my late husband who used to work with shell Development Company as an engineer before his death. All I want you to do is to assist in safe-keep of this fund valued at US$5.5 Million United States Dollars deposited at the custody of the security firm before it gets confiscated or declared un-serviceable. I seek your consent to present you as the Trustee to my late husband's inheritance, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. If you are interested in carrying out this task, I want you to contact me immediately, so that I can arrange all the modalities to effect the release of the fund to you. I know I have never met you but my mind tells me to do this, and I hope you will act sincerely. I have also decided that 30% of this money should be taken by you from the total sum upon the success release of this fund, because I am now too weak and fragile to do things myself because of my present health problems.I have been given 21 working days by the finance company for the collection of the deposited item before it will be confiscated. I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish. Kindly furnish me your full name and your address also your contact number, so that I will prepare all relevant documents with the assistance of our family lawyer to effect the release of the fund to you. Yours faithfully, Mrs. Rose Hanks.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam