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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:
  • "dear friend" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: james smith <jamessmith457@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 07:26:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PLEASE YOUR URGENT REPLY


Dear Friend,

I am Musa Mobutu Sese Seko, son of the late President Mobutu Sese Seko of Congo Democratic Republic former Republic of Zaire presently there is a war going on in my country and so my family members escaped to Morroco while I am presently at Benin Republic/Nigeria Border monitoring events. Because of the present crises, my environment is not conducive for investment and more over, most of my father's properties and bank accounts have been frozen by the present government of Joseph Kabila. Now, I want to set up a business overseas and I have about $25 Million United States Dollars set aside for this project, I decided to contact you to help me in setting up a business, but would not want my name or family name to be used. I am prepared to give you 20% of the total sum if you can assist me in claiming this fund from a security volt in Europe where my father (Mobutu Sese Seko) deposited this fund before he died. Please, do contact me immediately for us to discuss.

As soon as I hear from you, and confirm your assistance every document regarding to the claiming of this fund will be handed over to you as the family’s foreign partner.

My best Regards.
Musa Seko.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam