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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• 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:
  • "huge amount of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: martinwillams@webmail.co.za
Date: Sat, 01 Oct 2005 17:33:25 +0200
Subject: CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY

FROM ENGR MARTIN WILLIAMS
DEAR SIR,

I WISH TO INTRODUCE MY SELF AS ENGR JOSEPH MBANZA DIRECTOR
CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE GOLD INVESTMENT CORPORATION SOUTH
AFRICA.
SIR, I WISH TO INTRODUCE YOU IN TO A BUSINES, WHICH
INVOLVES A TRANSFER OF $ 28.5 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH BELONGS
TO ME. I GOT THIS FUND THROUGH OVER INVOICED CONTRACT WHICH
I AWARDED TO A GERMAN COMPANY ON THE 4TH JANUARY 2004.

I WISH TO SEEK FOR YOUR ASSISSTANCE IN TRANSFERING THIS
HUGE AMOUNT IN TO YOUR COMPANINES ACCOUNT OR PERSONAL
ACCOUNT FOR PROPER INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY. THIS IS
BECAUSE OF MY PRESENT STATUS AS A GOVERNMENT WORKER WHICH
DENIES ME HAS SUCH HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN MY POSSESSION
WHILE STILL IN SERVICE.

PLEASE KINDLY ADMIT MY PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH AND KEEP IT

AS CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN BOTH OF US. I HAVE ARRANGED WITH
ONE OF THE TOP BANK OFFICIALS IN THE RESERVED BANK HERE FOR
ONWARD TRANSFER IMMEDIATELY YOU ACCEPT TO ASSIST ME IN THIS
DEAL. THE FUND IN QUESTION IS PRESENTLY LODGED IN ONE OF
THE FINANCIAL SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR
SAFE KEEPING.

I WILL DISCUSS WITH YOU ON WHAT WILL BE YOUR REWARD FOR
YOUR KIND CO-OPERATION AND ASSISSTANCE UPON YOUR KIND REPLY
TO THIS MAIL BEFORE WE PROCEED ON THE TRANSACTION. IF YOU
ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL, KINDLY FORWARD YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE
AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION ALSO TO ENABLE ME
CONTACT YOU.

I WILL BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU IN GOOD FAITH.
ANTICIPATING YOUR KIND RESPONSE.
ENGR MARTIN WILLIAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam