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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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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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • patrickc@mail.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "patrick camara" <patricka@mail.ru> (may be fake)
Reply-To: patrickc@mail.ru
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 10:20:39 +0000
Subject: Compliment of the day.

Good Day,

Compliment of the day to you.I am Patrick Camara,I am from the Tongo village in Sierra Leone.My late father,a former Minister of Solid Minerals in Sierra Leone before he died.My late father left me with substantial amount of (US$7,000,000.00) which he deposited in a security company.

The reason for this correspondence is to seek your assistance on areas of business investment in your country where we can combinely invest/utilize my money on for profitable gains.The amount involved is Seven Million United States Dollars (US$7,000,000.00) only and i need your advice in time so that i can make necessary arrangements to move/transfer the money to you before my arrival in your country for further discussions and investments.If you can be of an assistance to me,I will be pleased to offer you 20% of the total fund.I am hereby soliciting your assistance to be my foreign partner and assist me make the claim of fund from the security company here in Senegal and it will be transfered to your country where it will be invested.

Tell me about yourself and also send me your full names, telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.Please acknowledge the receipt of this offer and indicate your willingness and readiness to assist me by responding urgently.Thank you for your understanding.Contact me with this email address:
patrickc@mail.ru

I am await your urgent response.
Yours Sincerely,
Patrick Camara.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam