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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:
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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Veronica Bash Okposo" <vbashokposo@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 07:30:38 +0100
Subject: Expecting your response

ATTENTION,
This proposal is confidential therefore I ask you to kindly ready it carefully.
I am Mrs Veronica Bash Okposo the linkman between the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC and World Bank.
I also attend OPEC meetings constantly in Geneva Switzerland on the auspices of World Bank. Through the sale of our allocated oil quota in OPEC,
I was able to make US$25.5million, which is currently deposited in a Security Company abroad.
I want you to assist me to claim this money as I cannot claim it directly because I am still a Civil servant in active service,
and the code of conduct bureau forbids me to acquire such huge amount of Money.
It is on this basis that I am contacting you for assistance; If You will be interested to work with me so that I will issue you an authorization,
and all claim documents will be processed and sent to you. The documents with which the fund is deposited will be changed to reflect you as the new beneficiary so that you will be eligible to collect the fund on my behalf. I will give you 30% of the fund for this assistance,
while 65% will be for me and 5% will be for expenses that may be incurred on both sides. I am aware of the international monitoring of all large-scale financial movements after the September 11th 2001Terrorist attack on America (USA) and to avoid any state of financial Investigation I will provide a classified clearance paper from the relevant body,
which will exonerate the money from drug, money laundered or terrorist related funds. Kindly respond to my proposal through this my private email, upon the receipt of your mail indicating interest; I will outline the work plan for you. I want to assure you that this is 100% risk free. You should also provide me with your private telephone and fax numbers for easier communication in the process of this deal. I will give you more details concerning this as soon as I received your swift response which must include your full names, address, occupation, age and your direct mobile phone number.
Expecting your response.
Mrs Veronica Bash Okposo

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam