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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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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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.
  • xericabowens@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Erica Bowens <xxericabowens@aim.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2006 13:24:10 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP (PLEASE)


Hi, My name is Erica Bowens, my mum, dad and older brother died in the explosion on Piccadilly line train number 311 travelling south from King's Cross station to Russell Square. You shall read more about the explosion on visiting this website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/london_blasts/what_happened/html/russell_sq.stm
My dad’s older brother took our house my mum’s car, dad’s car and everything we own and sold them, him and his wife moved to china and took me along. we've lived in china for 5 months and it's been hell for me, I am now 18years old with the dream of becoming a model which my mum has always wanted me to be, My mum and dad died leaving the sum of five million pounds only with a bank which no one knows of, I discovered the certificate issued after the money was deposited in my parents safe box. Please I am looking for a God fearing person who will help me collect this deposit I will give you more details when I get your assurance and willingness to help me. I will come over to your country and start a new life and invest my money on my modelling project. I have set aside 10% for you and for your time. Please get back to me as quick as possible; please keep this strictly confidential because I don’t want to loose the money to my dad's brother. Please reply to Email: xericabowens@aim.com
Thanks
Erica Bowens

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam