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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!
  
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• 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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "JULIE MARTINS" <sierraleonegirl_camp6@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 12:07:00 -0800
Subject: WE NEED YOUR HELP.


ATTN,


FIRST AND FOREMOST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST
CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION AND I PRAY THAT MY
DECISION TO CONTACT YOU WILL BE GIVEN GENUINE APPROVAL
CONSIDERING THE FACTS THAT WE HAVE NOT KNOWN EACH OTHER


BEFORE, I WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE
MYSELF TO YOU.


MY NAME IS MS.JULIE MARTINS FROM SIERRA-LEONE WEST AFRICA.

I AM 23 YEARS OLD AND THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF(CHEIF)SAMUEL
MARTINS. MY FATHER BEFORE HIS DEATH WAS A DIAMOND
MERCHANT IN MY COUNTRY. MY LATE FATHER WAS SHOT BY THE
REBELS ON HIS WAY TRAVELLING TO LUSIA A CITY AFTER
FREETOWN THE CAPITAL ALONG WITH MY ELDER BROTHER.


MY BROTHER DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE U.N.PEACE KEEPING
FORCE RESCUED MY FATHER,HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR
MEDICAL TREATMENT WHERE HE LATER DIED AFTER THREE
MONTHS.


BEFORE HIS DEATH HE REAVEALED TO ME AND MY MOTHER
ABOUT THE BOX CONTAINING $12.5 MILLION US DOLLARS.
WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH A DIPLOMATIC COMPANY IN GHANA
FOR SAFEKEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE
CONTENT OF THE BOX TO THE DIPLOMATIC COMPANY.TO AVIOD
THE OFFICIALS FROM RAISING EYE BROWS TO THE FUND.


PRESENTLY MYSELF AND MY MOTHER ARE HERE IN GHANA TO
NOTIFY THE DIPLOMATIC COMPANY FOR THE CLAIMS,AND WE ARE
STAYING IN THE REFUGEE CAMP.
WHEN WE GOT TO THE DIPLOMATIC COMPANY, WE WHERE TOLD
THAT MY FATHER MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM THAT THEY
SHOULD NOT RELEASE THE CONSIGNMENT TO ANY OF HIS
FAMILY MEMBER WITHOUT A FOREIGN PARTNER, THAT IS WHY
MY MOTHER AND I ARE SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.


THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO LECTURE ME ON HOW BEST WE CAN
INVEST THIS MONEY,BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT IT IS
DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN AFRICA TO AVIOD
SUSPICIONS,AND DUE TO MARKET INSTABILITY COUPLED WITH
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY FACING AFRICAN
COUNTRIES,THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO INVEST IT ABROAD.


FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, MYSELF AND MY MOTHER HAVE
AGREED TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE
MONEY.WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE
DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU
THROUGH FAX OR EMAIL ON REQUEST.

NOTE:I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS A TOP SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE.


MEANWHILE, I WILL WANT YOU TO FORWARD ACROSS TO ME YOUR
DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THIS
TRANSACTION.


BEST REGARDS
JULIE MARTINS
(FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam