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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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 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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Haja <haja22@web2mail.com>
Reply-To: t300y4k@netscape.net
Date: Mon, 01 May 2006 00:52:10 +0200
Subject: Hello


Dear Sir/Madam,

I was born in England and was taken to Saudi Arabia by my father when i was only 15 years old. He deceived me that I was going there on vacation and later married me out to a wealthy oil business man in Saudi Arabia who is 30 years older than me.

I was thus forced into marriage against my will and i have had trauma becasue of this over a long period of time. I decided to accept my faith, knowing that was the only way out.

Over the years i have been able to accumulate and divert $16,000,000.00 (Sixteen million dollars) into a European private Security and Finance company here in Saudi Arabia without the knowledge of my husband and right now I have mapped out a plan to move out of Saudi Arabia and live in a free World.

First of all I want to move the fund out of Saudi Arabia and this is where I need your assistance as i want to transfer the fund out of Saudi Arabia on your name.

The fund will be transfered by the European private Security and Finance company in Saudi Arabia to their branch office in Europe. As soon as the fund arrives in Europe you will claim the fund and secure it after which i will move out of Saudi Arabia.

For your assistance i am willing to offer you 10% ($1.6 Million US Dollars) and you will also assist me invest part of the fund into a profitable business in your country under your supervision. I also intend to give 5% ($800,000.00 USD)to charity organisations.

If you know you are capable of handling this transation send me your full name and contact details immediately so we can proceed.

Note also that you must keep this transaction secret as my life is at stake here in Saudi Arabia.

I await your quick response.

Yours faithfully,

Haja

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam