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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:
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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "i got your email address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
  • gmrs_sandra_wilson1968@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:52:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Beloved Friend


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gmrs_sandra_wilson1968@yahoo.com.hk



- Dear Beloved Friend,Let me first of all inform you, I got your email address from a mail Directory and decided to mail you for a permission to go ahead.I am Mrs. Sandra Wilson from Holland. I am married to Dr. Dais wilson a Nigerian who worked with a, construction company in Asia for twenty Years before he died in the tsunami disasters, we were married but without Any children. Since his death I decided not to re-marry and presently I am 61. When my late husband was Alive he deposited the sum of 55 million dollars (Fiftyfive Million Dollars) with a Security Company in Conjunction with JP Morgan Chase USA. Presently this money is still with the Security Company and the management just Wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to receive the money or rather Issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I cannot come over. I am presently in a Havana hospital where I have been undergoing treatment Cancer of the lungs in a hospital, I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to Live.I want a person that is trustworthy that will utilize 90% of this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around the world but in my name SANDRA WILSON I am afraid since so many things are happening in the world now, Like: Hurricanes, Earthquakes and these bird flu problem, I just want you to be opened minded and help me so that my funds can make a grate change in the affected peoples lives. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Security Company. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this fund. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein and Keep this contact confidential till such a time this funds get to your Custody, this is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on Earth.I await your urgent reply. Regards, Mrs SANDRA WILSON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam