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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Thomas Aka <aka_thom@yahoo.es>
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:07:34 +0200
Subject: Please get back to me


Attn: Sir/Madam,

First and foremost, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction and I pray that my decision to contact you will be given genuine approval considering the facts we have not known each other before; I wish to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you.
I am Mr Thomas Aka from Liberia, West Africa. I write to inform you of my desire to invest, and to buy a living house in your country.
I am the first son of Mr. Opong Aka; my father was a diamond/gold merchant in my country. My father had a bullet shot by the rebels on his way travelling out of my country with two of my younger sister's due to present crisis that is occurring in our country (Liberia).
My sister's died on the spot while UN peacemaker, keeping force rescued my father, and
he was taken to hospital for medical treatment, which he later died. Before he died he revealed to me and my mother about the box containing: some raw gold and $15.5 million, (fifteen million and five hundred thousand us dollars).Which he deposited with a security company in SPAIN for safekeeping. My father did not disclose the content of the box to the security company to avoid the officials from raising eyebrows to the funds. Presently my mother and myself are here in SPAIN to notify the security company for the claims, we are here as refugees.
Therefore I want you to come down here in SPAIN and be our beneficiary to this funds and withdraw this funds out from the security company as the direct beneficiary of this consignment and direct me on how best we can invest this money, because my father told me that it is dangerous to invest this money in Africa to avoid suspicions, and due to market instability coupled with economic and political instability facing African countries, that is why we want to invest Abroad. For your mutual assistance, my mother and I have agreed to offer you 5% of the total amount of the money.
We have all the vital documents covering the deposit and the ownership, which I can send to you through fax on request.
Note: I will like you to keep this as confidential as ever. Forward to me your fax and phone or mobile numbers for easy communication. Waiting for your urgent response.
Best regards,
Mr. Thomas Aka.
(For the entire family)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam