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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "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)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: <barristerjamesdon@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:07:23 +0000
Subject: I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE



DEAR SIR,
I AM BARRISTER JAMES DON,AN ATTORNEY AND PERSONAL CONFIDANT OF AN EX-GOVERNOR WHO IS NOW STANDING TRIAL FOR CORRUPTLY ENRICHING HIMSELF (CORRUPTION) WHILE IN THE OFFICE IN NIGERIA. HE WAS RELEASED ON BAIL BY THE TRIAL COURT BUT ALL HIS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ARE CONFISCATED AS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING HIM BAIL.
SOMETIME IN JANUARY 2007, HE DEPOSITED ONE BOX "TAGGED" GOLD BARS/VALUABLES IN A SECURITY VAULT OF A COMMERCIAL BANK IN GHANA, WEST AFRICA. THE CONTENT OF THE BOX IS FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$15M). HE HAS GIVING ME THE POWER OF ATTORNEY AND ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE DEPOSITED BOX AND INSTRUCTED ME TO LIASE WITH THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT OF THE BANK TO MOVE THE FUNDS OUT OF GHANA FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES.
I THEREFORE HEREBY SEEK YOUR CONSENT AND CO-OPERATION TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDS SECRETLY AND INVEST IT IN YOUR NAME WITHOUT INVOLVING HIS NAME TO AVOID TRACE NOW AND IN FUTURE. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TO DRAW ANAGREEMENT FOR YOU TO SIGN TO PROTECT HIS INVESTMENT WITH YOU AND I WILL LIASE WITH THE BANK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE CONSIGNMENT (FUNDS - US$15M) TO YOU.
HE IS WILLING AND READY TO COMPENSATE YOUR SINCERE AND CANDID EFFORT IN THIS REGARD WITH 20% OF THE FUNDS AFTER THE TRANSFER, WHILE YOU INVEST THE REST IN ANY PROFITABLE VENTURE OF YOUR CHOICE AND AS WOULD BE AGREED BY BOTH PARTIES.
ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF THIS PROPOSAL IMMEDIATELY AND INCLUDE YOUR FULL PARTICULARS: YOUR ADDRESS, COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS, PRIVATE/CELL PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS IF YOU CAN BE TRUSTED AND CAPABLE TO HANDLE THIS CONFIDENTIAL PROJECT FOR NECESSARY ACTION TO COMMENCE ON THE PROJECT AS TIME IS APPARENTLY OF THE ESSENCE.
I KNOW YOU MAY LIKELY HAVE DOUBTS AND DISTRUST IN YOUR HEART TOWARDS THIS PROPOSAL BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT WHEN YOU KNOW EVERY DETAILS WHICH I WILL READLY GIVE YOU AS SOON AS YOU CONVINCE ME THAT YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND CAPABLE, YOU WILL THEN AGREE WITH ME THAT THEBUSINESS IS REAL AND GENUINE.
"IF NOT INTERESTED PLEASE DELETE AND DO NOT EXPOSE"
YOURS FAITHFULLY.
BARRISTER JAMES DON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam