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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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)
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "contract review panel" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • ahmed20abdalla@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "ahmed abdalla" <ahmedabdalla21@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:22:30 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Ahmed Abdalla, Director and Board Member, Transparency
International, Kenya. I got your email address from the web directory, so I
decided to contact you. We are interested in diverting some funds currently
floating in the suspense account of the federal pay office to your account
as soon as possible.

Source of the funds are:

During the Arap Moi's government, government?s officials awarded contracts
to their own companies; these contracts were grossly over invoiced. Now the
present government set up contract review panel to settle those owed
outstanding amount. My colleagues and I have identified a huge amount
totaling US$ 370m (Three Hundred And Seventy Million United States Dollars).

We would want US$20.8m (Twenty Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) out of this money transferred to your account, because we are not
eligible to operate foreign account, and I have been mandated to search for
a partner abroad. We really want this transfer made as soon as possible,
before the government who has started refunding money from Moi's foreign
accounts tracks this money. We will be offering 25% for your assistance and
5% will be sat aside for any expenses that may be incurred during this
transaction.

If you would want to proceed with this transaction please reply with your
name and phone number to my private E-mail
Address:ahmed20abdalla@netscape.net and if you do not accept my offer please
treat with utmost confidentiality.

For more information check and browse carefully all the links in the website
below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3324369.stm

Best Regards,

Ahmed Abdalla,
Director & board member, Transparency International,
Kenya.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam