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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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:

• 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)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "former president of liberia" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27833728804 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "charles kabinda" <charleskabinda1112333@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:34:46 +0200
Subject: FROM: CHARLES KABINDA

ATTN : CEO/ PRESIDENT
FROM: CHARLES KABINDA
TEL: +27-83-372- 8804

 

Dear, 

 

I KNOW YOU WILL BE SURPRISE TO READ FROM ME, BUT PLEASE CONSIDER THIS
LETTER AS A REQUEST FROM A FAMILY IN DARE NEED OF ASSISTANCE. FIRSTLY, I
MUST INTRODUCE MYSELF; I AM MR CHARLES KABINDA, A COUSIN TO FORMER
PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA WHO RECENTLY STEPED ASIDE AND NOW GRANTED ASYLUM IN
NIGERIA.

 

I AM PRESENTLY RESIDING IN SOUTH AFRICA. I GOT YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS FROM A
BUSINESS DIRECTORY IN JOHANNESBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. I
DECIDED TO SOLICIT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF
US$22M(TWENTY-TWO MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) INTO YOUR
PERSONAL/COMPANIES ACCOUNT. THIS FUND EMINATED FROM THE PROCEEDS OF DIAMOND
SALE AND WAS DESIGNATED FOR THE PURCHASE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION.

 

I DEPOSITED THE BOX CONTAINING THE FUND IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN
JOHANNESBURG – SOUTH AFRICA. DURING THE WAR, I WAS VERY DEDICATED AND
COMMITED TO WINNING THE WAR AGAINST THE REBELS UNTIL WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT
SENIOR ARMY OFFICERS AND GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONERIES WERE BUSY HELPING
THEMSELVES WITH GOVERNMENT FUNDS AND PROPERTIES AND SENDING THEM TO FOREIGN
COUNTRIES. DUE TO THIS WHEN I AND MY FORMAL SPECIAL ADVICER TO THE PRESIDENT
WERE ASSIGNED BY PRESIDENT (PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR) TO PURCHASE ARMS IN
SOUTH AFRICA,WE SAW THIS AS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERTED THE MONEY AND
DIVIDED THE MONEY AND I GOT A TOTAL SUM OF US$22M.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LIVES AND FUTURE OF MY FAMILY DEPENDS ON THIS
MONEY, AND I WILL BE GRATEFUL IF YOU CAN ASSIST US. I AM NOW LIVING IN SOUTH
AFRICA AS POLITICAL ASYLUM SEEKERS AND FINANCIAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA DO NOT PERMIT US FINANCIAL RIGHTS TO SUCH A HUGE
AMOUNT OF MONEY. IN VIEW OF THIS, I CANNOT INVEST THIS FUND IN SOUTH AFRICA,
HENCE I PREPARED TO OFFER YOU 25% OF THE TOTAL FUND, 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE
FOR INCURABLE EXPENSES AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME.
FINALY, MODALITIES ON HOW THE TRANSFER WILL BE DONE WILL BE CONVEYED TO YOU
ONCE WE HAVE ESTABLESHED TRUST AND CONFIDENCE BETWEEN OURSELVES.

 

PLEASE TREAT THIS MATTER AS VERY URGENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BUSINESS
IS 100% RISK FREE.

 

BEST REGARDS,
CHARLES KABINDA

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam