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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "fabian talor" <fabian_taylor777b@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 10:26:21 -0600
Subject: help me to invest this fund into any good business!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please do not be surprised for I need your help immediately, I am Fabian
Taylor, son of the Former President of Liberia. As you may be aware that we
were granted asylum in Nigeria by the President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo (GCFR), after which my father was arrested on March 29, 2006 and
taken to Sierra Leone for war-crime charges.

I have what I will call my family last hope of $35m cash, raw gold worth
$1.7m and raw diamond worth $2m Million Dollars to entrust to any foreign
trusted person who will help me to invest this fund into any good business,
as I can no longer have any other means of livelihood. Your assistance to
receive this BOX that is presently with a security company having Diplomatic
Courier entry will be appreciated.

Since my father has been apprehended and all I have left is these assets, I
deem it necessary to securing th ese assets in a safe hand and further
guidance as regards investment. After receipt of these properties by you,
30% of the total assets will go to you.

This fund is in a box deposited with a security company (the identity and
location of the security company is not disclosed for security reasons). The
company is not aware of what is inside the box as I told them that the box
belongs to my friend and that I will inform my friend to apply for the
collection of the box.

Please immediately I hear from you, the modality of the transfer of the
properties will be disclosed properly.
Waiting for your urgent response.

Yours sincerely,
Fabian Taylor

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam