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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:
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (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.
  • joeddy47@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: John Edward <johneddy80@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 17:44:49 +0000
Subject: Contract payment of $10.Million





Kind Attention sir/ma, REQUEST TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF $10.MILLION USD ONLY TO YOUI wish to intimate you with this proposal in my capacity as the Chief Financial Controller,ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES(ECOWAS)and in full agreement and consent with the Auditor-General and the Chairman,ECOWAS CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE.We scrutinized all records and the accounts of awarded and executed contracts to supply arms and ammunitions to the Ecowas Peace Keeping Forces(ECOMOG)in Liberia and Sierra-Leone during the Civil war,However we deliberately over invoiced the contract sum to $55.Million.The actual contract sum was $45.Million.The original contractor has been paid off Since the inception of democracy in those countries,I with the agreement and full consent of the Chairman and the auditor-General therefore seek for your assistance to transfer into your account as the beneficiary of the over invoiced whooping sum of$10.Million.As top civil Servants, we are not authorized to operate foreign bank accounts hence our decision to use your account in full trust and confidence to transfer this money into your account. We will accepted you as our foreign partner and will regularize and update the payment approvals to reflect you as the true beneficiary of the contract.Moreover,it is pertinent to note that it is not risky and does not require much engagements since we have taken care of the deal in full capacity. we have resolved to give you 30% of the total sum for your assistance. If you are interested in this deal Remember to give to me your name/Company name,phone and fax lines through which l can send you the approved documents for your perusal. You will send me a letter of invitation immediately the money get into your account,to enable come to your country and represent my colleagues in the disbursement the commission. I am waiting for your response with hope that you will understand the confidential nature of this transaction.Please reply to,joeddy47@yahoo.com. MR.John EdwardChief Financial Controller{ECOWAS}
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam