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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (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: "Franck Lawson" <francklawson2007@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: francklawson2006@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2006 11:29:04 +0000
Subject: Urgent

The Managing Director/ CEO
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have the honour and confidence to introduce this business to you in view of the fact that you are trustworthy and reliable as my inquires reveals.
I am MR FRANCK LAWSON, who work in the Foreign Payment Department of the PROGRESSIVE BANK of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. There is an account opened in this bank in 1996 but since 2000 nobody has operated on this account again. After a private and intensive investigation, I discovered that the owner of this account was the manager of J. WILSON CO. LTD - a foreigner, who has since died without having a beneficiary to this account here in Cote d’Ivoire. My investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know about this fund because the company has not become operational before the sudden demise of the manager- Joe Wilson. The amount in this account is USD 12Million (Twelve Million United States Dollars)
As a matter of fact, I have resolved to take this fund abroad for investment. Your assistance as a foreigner is necessary because the management will welcome any foreigner who has correct information to this Account which I will give you immediately, if you are interested to do this business with me. There is no risk in this business.
After its conclusion I will retrieve all documents used in the transfer to destroy them in your presence, when I come over to you for sharing.
Sharing will be 30% for you, 05% for any expenses incurred in this business and the remaining 65% for me. As soon as I hear from you I will put up May annual leave to facilitate the transfer of this fund to any Account of your choice.
Kingly reply me immediately with your telephone and fax number including your banking details to proceed the transfer of the fund to your nominated account.
Thanks.
Mr. Franck Lawson



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam