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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
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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: mr cole <mrccole28@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrdennis_cole@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 21:49:25 +0600
Subject: DENNIS COLE.CONFIDENTIAL ATTN:



DENNIS COLE.CONFIDENTIAL ATTN: I know that this mail may come to you as a surprise as we haven't met or known each other but please forgive me for the inconveniences. Please I write to solicit for your urgent and kind assistance.I am a Sierra Leonean, 23 yrs old and only son of late Engr. Robert Cole. Until his death, he was the Regional Manager of Rex Diamond, in Freetown, Sierra Leone. My Mum died earlier on a plane crash. On April 6th, 2000 the Lilitary forces loyal to the government of TIJAN KABBAH invaded the diamond mine and assassinated him, mistaking him for his brother, Mr.James Cole who was one of the lieutenants of the leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) MR FODAY SANKOH. When the news reached our house, I hurriedly gathered some valuables in our family home and escaped to a West African country. Among the valuables was a file that contained details of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$4.5 Million) deposit made with a Security Company in Abidjan, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) by my late father. Now that I am in Abidjan and have verified the deposit, I will need your assistance to help me retrieve this deposit from the Security Company here in Abidjan to your country as my Guardian and Trusteesince I have nobody left again. Once you retrieve the deposit safely to your country, you will help me to leave this country to meet you for proper investment and to continue my education. I wouldn’t like to lay much emphasis on my condition here but understand it that it is really bad with me here. Please I amwilling to offer you some percentage of the total sum for your kind assistance.Thanks and God bless you while looking forward tohearing from you.Best regards,Dennis Cole.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam