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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "robhj" <robhj@manx.net>
Reply-To: shifamaha@fizzmail.com
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 23:30:49 +0100
Subject: Dear Beloved

Dear Beloved,

I am sorry to come to you in this way, I came across
your email and my spirit lead me to choose you. As
you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me,
because, I believe everyone will die someday.

My name is Al Shifa Maha, a merchant in Tunisia and
Dubai. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer.
It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and
I have only few months to live, according to
medical experts.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given
most of my property and assets to my immediate and
extended family members as well as a few close friends.
I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so,
I have decided to give also to charity organizations,
as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on
earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity
organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria, Malaysia and some
countries in Africa. Now that my health has deteriorated
so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.

I once asked members of my family to close one of my
accounts and distribute the money, which I have there
to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan; they
refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do
not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contented
with what I have left for them. The last of my money
which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of
Eleven Million United States Dollars $11,000,000,00
that I have with a Security Company abroad.


I will want you to help me collect this deposit and
dispatched it to charity organizations. I have set
aside 10% for you, your time and also any expenses
incurred during this assignment. God be with you.
I await your response in good faith.
Reply to: shifamaha@fizzmail.com

God bless you greatly as you do.

Regards,

Al Shifa Maha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam