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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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: "Mr.Usman Mike" <mikeusman1@msn.com>
Reply-To: barr_mikeusman7@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 08:47:34 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

FROM THE DESK OF:
BARRISTER MIKE .U. ADAMS.
PERSONAL LAWYER TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA.

ATTN:

MY NAME IS BARRISTER MIKE .U. ADAMS, 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 TAYLOR AND HE WAS THE FORMAL PRESIDENT 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 THE SHORE OF AFRICA TO
AVIOD HARRASMENT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL. WHAT MY CLIENT NEEDS FROM
YOU NOW IS YOUR TRUST AND WILLINGNESS TO CLAIM THE FUND WHERE IT'S PRESENTLY
DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN EUROPE.BUT BEAR IN MIND THAT WE NEED
DEVELOP CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN OURSELVES AND I WILL HAVE YOUR ASSURANCE
THAT UNDER TO CIRCUMSATNCES WILL YOU EXPOSE HIS PLAN TO REMIT AND POSSIBLY
INVEST IN YOUR COMPANY. SO HE HAS AGREED THAT I SHOULD MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR
THE CLAIM OF US$250 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, THEN IF HE FINDS YOU
RELIABLE, YOU WILL STILL RECIEVE THE REMAINING US$25O MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS AND YOU ARE FREE TO NEGOTIATE YOUR MODE OF COMPENSATION EVEN IF HE
NTENDS TO INVEST THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY.

PLEASE, DO NOT HESITATE TO INDICATE YOUR VIEW OF THIS REQUEST BY CONTACTING
ME IMMEDIATELY VIA MY PERSONAL EMAIL FOR MORE DETAILS AND CLEARIFICATION.
DUE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION OF MY CLIENT, I WOULD BE HAPPY IF THIS REQUEST
BE KEPT HIGHLY CONFIDENTAIL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU 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 NOT FORGET TO SEND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX
NUMBERS WHEN REPLYING.

THANKS,
BARRISTER MIKE .U. ADAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam