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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million us 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "DON SOLOMON" <donsolmon10@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: donsolmon@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 22:38:46 +0200
Subject: HELLO DEAR.

Don Solomon & Family
Rte 34B Gueye F,Pikine Dakar
Dear partner/friend,
I know it is quite unusual for people to meet each other this way and have full trust and confidence at once, but all things been equal I am in need of help, as such request for your assistance.My name Don Solomon,a Liberian national now residing here in Dakar,Senegal for the past few week as a refugee.My Father was working under the ministry of land,mines and Energy,he was in charge of export of diamonds in the southern region of the country for many years.
Unfortunately,last year he was attacked by a rebel group and later died in hospital as a result of injury he sustained. Before his untimely death,he disclosed to me about some money he deposited with a fiduciary company here in Dakar for safe keeping.The deposit was made in my name as the beneficiary to this money and all this information was revealed to me by my father in the hospital before his death.
The sole purpose of my writing now is to seek your assistance in retrieving the deposit from the fiduciary company and arrange on how to transfer the money into a safe account where it could be used for future investments.Due to my position here i cannot be able to freely carry out this processes as a refugee this is why i contacted you to act on my behalf under a mutual agreement/trust that you will not betray me at last.
The total value of the deposit is US$25,000,000.00($25Million US Dollars)and we have agreed to compensate with 30% of the amount for your kind assistance to ensure sucess in this project.
Please the confidentiality of this transaction is of great importance to protect my interest as you can understand my position here. This proposal and it's content should please be limited to both parties (you and I).and remember to include your direct contact phone and fax numbers for easy communication.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours Sincerely,
Don Solomon.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam