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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "MR MICHAEL AKWA" <michael_akwa@wanadoo.es> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 05:00:13 -0700
Subject: ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FOR ACQUISITION OF ESTATE IN YOUR COUNTRY.

FROM MR MICHAEL AKWA
GHANA WEST AFRICAN

TO :


DEAR FRIEND ,
RE : BUSINESS COLLABORATION WITH YOU.

I AM WRITING TO CRAVE YOUR INDULGENGE TO SHARE THIS GREAT LIFE OPPORTUNITY WITH US. WE HAVE THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS(USD150,000,000.00) REALISED AS OVERINVOICE FROM THE USD2.5BN PORTS OVERALL A/Q/D/ FOR 2005. WE WANT TO GET A RELIABLE PARTNER LIKE YOU AS A RELIABLE PERSON WHOSE ACCOUNT COULD BE USED TO GET THIS FUND OUT OF GHANA WEST AFRICA. THIS TRANSACTION IS LEGAL, GENUINE AND RISKFREE AND WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 72 HOURS ON GETTING YOUR CONSENT AND THE REQUIRED ACCOUNT DETAILS. SHARING FORMULAR SHOULD BE DISCUSSED ON THE AGREEMENT DRAFT THAT IS ATTACHED BELOW. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS NEEDED FROM YOU :

YOUR FULL NAME.................................
ADDRESS...............................................
DATE OF BIRTH.....................................
PLACE OF BIRTH...................................
PROFESSION.........................................
MARRITAL STATUS...............................
CELL PHONE.........................................
LAND PHONE.........................................
FAX NUMBER........................................
E-MAIL ADDRESS...................................
NAME OF BANK.....................................
ADDRESS OF BANK................................
ACCOUNT NUMBER................................
SWIFT CODE...........................................
REGARDS,
MR MICHAEL AKWA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam