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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +27834956621 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • charlesmbama_010@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: charles mbama <charlesmbama_010@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 04:12:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE


FROM:CHARLES MBAMA
JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA
TEL:+27-83 495 6621
E-MAIL:charlesmbama_010@yahoo.com

Dear Sir/Madam,
URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
GREETINGS FROM ME TO YOU.I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW ME PERSONALLY. BUT PLEASE CAN YOU BE OF ASSISTANCE TO ME? MY ATTORNEY ADVICED ME TO WRITE AND SEE IF YOU CAN HELP ME.MY NAME IS MR.CHARLES MBAMA.I AM FROM ZIMBABWE, MY FATHER WAS KILLED DURING THE RECENT LAND DISPUTES BY THE
AGENTS OF PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE. MY FATHER WAS AMONG THE FARMERS THAT WERE KILLED, BUT BEFORE HE WAS KILLED, HE WENT TO JOHANNESBURG,SOUTH AFRICA AND DEPOSITED THE SUM OF $15.5 MILLION DOLLARS(FIFTEEN MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) IN
A SECURITY COMPANY. NOW I AM IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH MY FAMILY. PLEASE I WILL STOP HERE, THERE IS NO NEED FOR TOO MANY STORIES, I PROMISE YOU IF YOU CAN HELP ME TO MOVE THIS MONEY TO YOUR COUNTRY I WILL BE GREATFULL.YOUR PERCENTAGE WILL BE MAPPED OUT FOR YOU WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY.
GOD BLESS.
YOURS FAITH FULLY,
CHARLES MBAMA





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam