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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
  (+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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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:
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • mina_taylor@inbox.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mina C. Taylor" <mina_taylor@inbox.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:55:34 +0700
Subject: Business proposal

Dear sir.

RE-JOINT VENTURE INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

I got your mail address via business conference directory; hence I decided to contact you with this investment proposal of mutual benefits.
I am Mrs. Mina Charles Taylor, the wife of the Ex President of the Republic of Liberia who was exiled some few years ago and now being held by the World Crime Tribunal.

Before my husband was disposed and while he was still in power, he was a sole broker of Arm Deal between the Sere lonian Rebel Leader and his foreign counterpart who supplied them with weaponry for an exchange for Diamond. Hence Liberia was used as a base for this transaction for years.
Before my husband was arrested In Nigeria by the International criminal court two years ago, where he is still presently being held.

He told me in confidence as his wife and the only mother of his 4 children that his foreign associates have deposited a box containing the sum of {$15.000.000} Fifteen millions United State Dollars into my husband nominated safety box and security company as family treasure, accruable from the last diamond transaction he had with his foreign associates
It is disheartening to note that my husband closest friend in the leadership of the Nigerian government, who promised to protect my husband by granting him Asylum in Nigeria finally betrayed him and turned him over to his enemies {The International Criminal Tribunal} . In order to close up some huge amount of money my husband trusted into his custody.

Before he was finally arrested, in Nigeria, he gave me all the necessary documents including power of attorney to execute his "WILL" relating to the deposit his friend made on his behalf, unfortunately and fortunately his friend who lodged the box into the security company is also in the custody of this same people that are holding my husband.

Lucky enough, we were able to be smuggled out of Nigeria and made our way to ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE WEST AFRICA .were we are now taking refuge pending the completion of our onward trip out of Africa
I have since spoken to the safety Box Company Director severally in this regards and our discussion has been successful since I was the next of kin to my husband according to records left with the security company.

Since I am still being looked for by the present Liberian government and some group of people whom my husband might have stepped on their tolls, I am therefore keeping my self on a very low profile and confidentially.
I am hereby seeking a trustworthy person with vast experience in business circle who will be able to assist me in receiving the aforementioned money to his/her country for onward investment since the fate of my husband is unknown.

I will be willing to offer you 25% of the total sum for assisting me in receiving the money into your country. While you will still be my adviser/guide on how the capital sum will be invested without failure.
We also intend to relocate to your country as soon as the money is finally moved to your custody in your country. Let me assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free at the stage this transaction has gotten to.
Please if this proposal appeals to you, kindly send me your acceptance mail via the under listed mail address for more detailed/discussion.

Yours truly,

Mrs. Mina C. Taylor
mina_taylor@inbox.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam