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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• 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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "cotonou" (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.
  
• 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.
  • mikefrank@uymail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: michael frank <michael@franmichael.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:08:28 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Will appreciate your support





Dear friend,
I am Michael Frank, I represent members of contract award committee of my province,
cotonou republic of Benin.I have managed to deposit the sum of $25 million in the
vault of Citi Bank of America (local branch).These funds was acquired as gratification from various contractors i have assisted in getting contracts.


This fund was deposited without any account as a result of civil service code, which does not allow us to operate foreign account.
I'm asking for your assistance as a foreigner to move these fund from
the vault of our local bank to your account through our correspondent bank abroad,
as the beneficiary. I will also need your assistance in the areas of investments
prefarable hospitality industry.
COMMISSION!
You will be entitled to 15% of the total funds for your assistance.
If you are interested contact me immediately through this e-mai(mikefrank@uymail.com ) for more details and how to proceed.
Please note that the transaction is risk free as all have to be bank to bank transaction.
Regards and God bless.
Michael Frank

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam