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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "10% will be kept aside for expenses" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "there is no risk involved" (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.
  • sgtirvins@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "SGT. IRVIN SHAWN" <sgtirvinsh@walla.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:40:20 +0700
Subject:

Dear Sir/Madam

Good day to you

My name is Irvin Shawn I am an American soldier, serving in the military
with the 1st Armored Division in
Iraq. I and my superior moved funds Belonging to Saddam Hussein, the total
is Eight Million Five Hundred
Thousand United State dollars (US$8. 500,000.00) this money is being kept
Safe in a security company.

Basically since we are working for the government we cannot keep these
funds, we have decided to look
for someone to help us keep this funds This is why I have contacted you, so
you can keep it for us in
your Safe Account or an offshore account. We will divide the total funds >
in three ways, since we are three
Involved in this. You will take 30%, and 30% will be for me, and my
Superior will take 30%. 10% will be kept aside for expenses.

This Business is confidential, and it should not be discussed with anyone.
There is no risk involved whatsoever. If you are interested I will send you
the full details, my job is to find a
good partner that we can Trust And that will assist us. Can I trust you?
When you receive this letter, kindly
send me an e-mail Signifying your interest including your confidential
telephone/fax Numbers for quick
communication and also your contact details. This Business is risk free.
Please reply me via this email: sgtirvins@aim.com

Respectfully submitted
Sgt. Irvin Shawn
sgtirvins@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam