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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "million 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 orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Amos Eckhoff" <amoseko_amos@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 20:21:02 +0400
Subject: From Mr.Amos Eckhoff:Investment Assistance

Plot 12,
No 32 Mbei Way,
Behind Central Stadium,
Isoto,
Zimbabwe.
9th May... 2007.

I know you will be surprise to read from me, but please consider this letter as a request from a family in dares need of assistance. I am Mr. Amos Eckhoff, the only son of late Mr. Bernard Eckhoff of Zimbabwe, presently in Dubai.
On behalf of my widowed mother Mrs. Glory Eckhoff, I decided to solicit for your assistance to move the sum of $10.2 million Dollars, inherited from my late father to your country for an onward investment under your kind control. My father was killed during the current war against farmers in Zimbabwe from the support of our present head of states President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms to his NPF Party Members. He ordered all the white farmers to surrender all their farms to his party members and followers.
My father was the one of the best farms in our country and because he did not support Mugabes` ideas, Mugabes supporters invaded my fathers farms and burnt down every thing in the farm, killed my father and made away with a lot of items in my fathers farm. Before my father's death, he had deposited with one of the security and finance companies in Abidjan Ivory Coast the sum of $10.2 million Dollars. After the death of my father, I and my mother move to Abidjan Ivory Coast where my late dad had deposited the money with Security Company as valuables.

Before my mother asked me to come over to Dubai in search of a reputable person to assist us. We decided to contact an oversea firm or company that can assist us move this money out of Abidjan Ivory Coast, because my family is afraid of operating any bank account for now, since the present govt in my country is still after my father's remaining properties. According to the families wish, we have agreed to offer you 35% of total sum for your assistance, 5% has been mapped out for any expenses that may be incurred in the course of this transaction and 65% will be for me and my family to invest in your country.

From the above you will understand that the lives and future of my family depends on this money, as such I will be very happy if you can assist us.
Best regards,


Mr. Amos Eckhoff.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam