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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "ANDREW MICHEAL" <andrewmesq3@msn.com>
Reply-To: andrew_111@walla.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 03:01:09 +0000
Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR

FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER ANDREW MICHEAL.
PERSONAL LAWYER TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA.

DEAR SIR/Madam,

MY NAME IS BARRISTER ANDREW MICHEAL, I AM A PRIVATE ATTORNEY AND I HAVE A
CLIENT WHO IS INTERESTED IN INVESTING SOME GOOD MONEY IN YOUR COMPANY. MY
CLIENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND PROMINENT PERSON WHO HAS MANDATED ME TO
CONTACT YOU OR YOUR COMPANY FOR A VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRANSACTION. MY
CLIENT IS BY NAME MR. CHARLES TAYLOT AND HE WAS THE FORMAL PRESIDENT OF
LIBERIA FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA. MR.CHARLES TAYLOR MADE ALOT OF MONEY
THROUGH GOLD/DIAMOND, OIL PROCEEDS DURING HIS TENURE IN OFFICE.

THE TRUTH OF THIS CASE IS THAT MY CLIENT DESPITE THE PROBLEM HE IS GOING
THROUGH NOW, HE STILL HAS A LOT OF MONEY IN HIS POSSESSION. WHICH HE INTENDS
TO INVEST OUTSIDE THEIR COUNTRY LIBERIA. WHAT MY CLIENT NEEDS FROM YOU NOW
IS A RELIABLE ACCOUNT WHERE HE CAN TRANSFER SOME MONEY BUT MIND YOU, ALL THE
MONEY IN HIS POSSESSION CAN NOT LEAVE AT ONCE BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO BUILD
CONFIDENCE AND TRUST INSOMEONE WHO WOULD NOT EXPOSE HIS PLAN TO REMIT AND
POSSIBLY INVEST IN YOUR COMPANY.


SO HE HAS AGREED THAT I SHOULD MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE TRANSFER OF US$30
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, THEN IF HE FINDS YOU RELIABLE, HE WILL STILL
TRANSFER THE REMAINING US$20 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS AND YOU ARE FREE
TO NEGOTIATE YOUR MODE OF COMPENSATION EVEN IF HE INTENDS TO INVEST THE
MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY. PLEASE, DO NOT HESITATE TO INDICATE YOUR VIEW OF THIS
REQUEST BY CONTACTING ME IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL, SO THAT THE
NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR THE MONEY TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.


DUE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION OF MY CLIENT, I WOULD BE HAPPY IF THIS REQUEST
CAN BE KEPT A SECRET. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO RISK
INVOLVED. I HOPE MY CLIENT WOULD BE HAPPY INVESTING WITH YOU.IF THIS
PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE BY YOU,DO NOTFORGET TO SEND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE
AND FAX NUMBERS WHEN REPLYING.

THANKS,

BARRISTER ANDREW MICHEAL.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam