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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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• 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.

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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "account in your country or any safer place" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million british pounds" (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: "Deborah Martins" <dmartins22@atlas.sk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: d22martins@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:57:17 +0000
Subject: FROM DEBORAH MARTINS

FROM DEBORAH MARTINS RUE 6 BP 01 COCODY ABIDJAN COTE D IVOIRE. DEAREST ONE, I know my message will come to you as a surprise since i don't know you in person or met with you before, But i'm of the believe that you would be obliged to come to my assistance after hearing about my situation. My Late husband Mr Robert Martins, who was a serving director of the Agro-exporting board until his death. He was assassinated on the 17th of November 2005 by the rebels during the political uprising. Before his death he had a foreign account here in Côte d'Ivoire where he made a deposit of £ 8.5 Million British Pounds which he deposited for the purchase of cocoa processing machine and development of another factory before his untimely death. Being that this part of the world experiences political crises time without number, there is no guarantee of lives and property. I cannot invest this money here any long, despite it has been my late husband's industrial plans. I want you to do me a favour to receive this funds to a safe account in your country or any safer place as the beneficiary . I have plans to invest this money in continuation with the investment vision of my late husband, but not in this place again rather in your country. I have the vision of going into real estate and industrial production. This is my reason for contacting you. Please if you are willing to assist me and my only son Stephen Martins, indicate your interest in replying soonest and all the necessary vital information will be sent to you when i hear from you. Yours faithfully Mrs. Deborah Martins

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam