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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • alyousf1988@yahoo.co.in (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Yousif Al-Zubair" <tayousif04@yahoo.fr> (may be fake)
Reply-To: alyousif1988@yahoo.co.in
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2007 10:50:52 +0000
Subject: Investment Offer From Mr. Yousif Al-Zubair.



Dear Friend,
I got your contact from the Ecowas Infomation Center in Côte d'Ivoire.
My sources of your contact gave me the courage and confidence. It is
my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend to
establish in your country, though I have not met with you before but I
believe one has to risk confiding in success sometimes in life. I am Mr.
Yousif Al-Zubair, the son of the former minister for DEFENCE and
INTERIOR.

There is this huge amount of US$15.6million which my late father kept
for us in company here in Senegal Dakar before he was assassinated by
unknown persons.

Now I and my younger sister have decided to invest this money in your
country or anywhere save enough outside Africa for security and political
reasons. We want you to help us claim and retrieved this fund from the
Fiduciary Fund Holders and Transfer it into your personal account in your
country for investment purposes on profitable ventures. If you can be of an
assistance to us, we will pleased to offer you $4.5million of the total fund.
I await you're soonest responses through our private E-Mailbox:
alyousf1988@yahoo.co.in

Respect fully yours,

Mr. Yousif Al-Zubair.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam