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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
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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +225 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: susanne williams <susanne_williams01@yahoo.it>
Reply-To: susan_williams01@mac.com
Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 00:29:38 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From: Ms.Susanne Williams


From: Ms.Susanne Williams

Accountant/Operational Unit,

Abidjan-Côte D'Ivoire

My Private telephone :( +225.07.86.33.11)


Attn: Managing Director,



Sir,


I am Ms.Susanne Williams, a staff in Accountant/Operational Unit with one of our local bank in Abidjan-Côte D'Ivoire. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. I got your profile from a reliable source living in your country. The details of my intention were not made known to them. I must confess my agitation is really, and my words are my bond in this deal. Honestly I want you to believe that this transaction is real and never a hoaxes or scam letter.I want you to understand that as long as I am concerned this transaction you don't have to be afraid in that this transaction is 100% risk free that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.


On Friday June 6th, 2003, an oil Consultant / Contractor with the National Petroleum Corporation here in Abidjan-Côte D’Ivoire, Mr. EDISON PHILIPS made a numbered time (Fixed Deposited Account) for twelve calendar valued at US$9,000,000.00 (Nine Million United States Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contact employers in Côte D’Ivoire National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. EDISON PHILIPS died along with his entire family in and auto crash.


On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. EDISON PHILIPS, did not declare any next of kin in his entire official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork. This sum of US$9,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one has come forward to claim it. According to the Côte D'Ivoire Law of the Land, at the expiration of 3 (Three) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Côte d'Ivoire Government treasury if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner partner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. EDISON PHILIPS, so that the fruits of this old mans labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple and understanding,


1) I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin to this fixed deposit account.


2) We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting all the necessary documents in your favor for the transfer.


3) A bank account in any part of the world, which you provide, will then facilitate the transfer of this money into your account as the sole beneficiary / next of kin of Mr. EDISON PHILIPS The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 80% for me and 20% for you.


There is no risk as all the paper work for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as a staff of this department, guarantees the successful execution of this deal.


If you are interested, please reply immediately via through my official email address. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the deal very well. Please observe utmost secrecy/ confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.



Awaiting your urgent reply

Thanks and best regards,

Ms.Susanne Williams

My Private telephone: (+225.07.86.33.11

- susanne williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam