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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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 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.
  • lovelyelizabeth@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "elizabeth musa" <elizabethdanmusa05@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 09:33:50 +0000
Subject: CRYING FOR HELP

HELLO DEAR FRIEND,

THIS LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISED SINCE WE
HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS CORESPONDENCE.THIS IS AS A
RESULT OF THE HELPLESS SITUATION I FOUND MYSELF
INTO. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH DAN MUSA, I AM 23 YEARS
OLD GIRL ,I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A
RELIABLE, CAPABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN
ASSIST ME IN THIS DARKEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE.
I LOST MY FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS,TWO BROTHERS
WITH OUR FAMILY HOUSE DURING THE BOMB EXPLOSION AT
THE ARMY CANTONMENT (BARRACKS). I AM ALIVE WRITING YOU
BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE OUTSIDE HOME AT THE TIME
OF THE EXPLOSIONS. I AM WRITING YOU NOW FROM OUR
CHURCH WHERE THE VICTIMS OF THE EXPLOSION ARE KEPT
INCLUDING MYSELF. NO HOUSE, NO GOOD HEALTH,

BEFORE MY FATHER'S SUDDEN DEATH, HE KEPT THE SUM OF
US$6,000,000.00 (SIX MILLION US DOLLARS) IN CASH WITH
A PRIVATE SECURITY AND FINANCECOMPANY.NOW THAT HE IS
LATE AND I AM THE ONLY ONE LEFT BEHIND. I AM WRITING
YOU TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY,
INVEST IT IN A PROFITABLE BUSINESS AND RELOCATE ME TO
JOIN YOU IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT OF INSECURITY OF
LIFE AND PROPERTY HERE, I DO NOT WANT TO STAY HERE ANY
LONGER.
PLEASE INDICATE YOUR READYNESS TO ASSIST ME,SO THAT
ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FUNDS WILL BE PASSED TO
YOU IMMEDIATELY.

SEND TO ME YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY
COMMUNICATION.
AND ALSO ASSURE ME YOU WILL NOT BETRAY ME AT THE END
THIS TRANSACTION KEEP THIS TO YOURSELF ONLY. IF THIS
TRANSACTION IS PROPERLY EXECUTED, I AM PREPARED TO
GIVE YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND
ASSISTANCE.CONTACT ME
PRIVATEEMAIL:lovelyelizabeth@myway.com

REGARDS,
ELIZABETH DAN MUSA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam