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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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• 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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states 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)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ken taylor" <keyytaylor20@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: kenlor_12@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:54:16 +0200
Subject: ken taylor


ATTN=3A DIRECTOR
ITS A GREAT PLEASURE AND UNDERSTANDING TO RELATE TO YOU THIS
FUND BENEFIT ASSITANCE=2CIS QUITE INTERESTING INTRODUCING
MY HONOURABLE SELF TO YOU =2CI AM THE ELDERS SON OF CHARLES=2C
TAYLOR OF LIBERIA=2C AM KEN TAYLOR=2C PRESENTLY AM IN POLAND
WHERE I RAN TO BEFORE MY FATHER WAS SENT TO HAGUE FOR TRIAL
UNDER THE REGIME OF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT OF MRS SIRLEAF JOHNSON
AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL MY FATHER WAS IN POSSESION OF $10=2C000=2C000=2CTEN
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS=2CBEFORE HE LEFT HIS EXCILE HOME
=2CPRESENTLY THE FUND HAVE BEEN MOVED TO POLAND THROUGH A
DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY=2CIN A PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY IN POLAND=2C
BUT=2CTHE SECURITY COMPANY IS NOT AWARE OF THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX=2C
NOW I SINCERELY NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FUND
IS CLEARED AND PROPERLY INVESTED IN A REFINED BUSINESS THAT WILL
BEAR AND REGISTERED IN OUR NAME=2CPOSSIBLLY IN YOUR COUNTRY OF
ORIGIN=2CMEANWHILE YOU CAN CALL ME ON MY MOBLIE LINE IMMEDIATELY
0048-504438018 OR VIA MY EMAIL ADDRESS kenlor=5F12=40yahoo=2Eco=2Euk=2CKINDLY
CONTACT ME SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS FURTHER ON HOW TO COMPLETE
THE MUTUALTRANSACTION SUCCESSFULLY =2CAND YOUR ASSISTING PERCENT-
AGE=2E
PLEASE=2CKINDLY MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THIS PROJECT VERY CONFINDENTIAL
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU=2E
BEST REGARD=2C
KEN TAYLOR

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam