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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
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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.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • abuoma_121@yahoo.com.sg (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "abuoma24" <abuoma24@terra.com.mx>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:29:54 -0600
Subject: urgent assistance


alternative email:abuoma_121@yahoo.com.sg
From the Desk of: Dr Abu Oma

Dear Sir,
We were members of a special committee for budget and planning of the ministry of petroleum resources which has previously been merged with the presidency. With our positions, we have successfully secured for ourselves the sum of $17.5m. This amount was accumulated from proceeds resulting from government's withdrawals of petroleum subsidies. Because of our position with government we are not allow to operate foreign account. What we need from you is to provide a very safe and vital offshore account into which the funds will be transferred. My colleagues and I have agreed to compensate the owner of the account used for this transaction with 20% (or a re-negotiated sum) of the total amount remitted. Now we need a reliable, honest, decent and solvent person or a reputable company to assist us in this deal. So if you can convince my colleagues and I of your honesty and profound interest in this deal, then we can proceed to furnish you with the details of this transaction. All we need is your assurance that you are solvent and capable of handling a transaction of this magnitude, and that our share of the money will be safe with you. My colleagues and I are looking towards the possibility of a meeting with you as we proceed with this transaction. Please respond through my fax to the number above and you can call me on the phone number above. I honestly assure you that this deal is 100% risk-free, and I look forward to your urgent reply.
Thank you so much for your anticipated cooperation and God bless.

Best Regards,
Abu Oma

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam