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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:
  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:
  • "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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • makomi2007@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Capt.Lucky Makomi <makomilucky@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:35:38 +0100
Subject: Hello


Greetings,
May I use this opportunity to ask for your wisdom, understanding and =
attention to this mail of mine. I do also ask you not to regard this mail as =
one of the junk mails.You would have receive this letter long ago, but I was =
considering the fact that we have not met each other before and wonders what =
will be your mind to read such message from an unknown person. In fact, this =
has given me a lot of worrisome before I courageously decided to propose you =
on this venture.

I sincerely come in good faith to you with utmost assurance that you will =
never regret given your attention to this mail at the end of the day.
My name is Capt. Lucky Makomi , I am in the Engineering military unit here in =

Luanda, Angola, and we have about $12.5 Million US dollars that we want to =
move out of the country. My partners and I need a good partner someone we can =
trust.It is legal money and we are moving it through diplomatic means to send =
it to your house directly using a diplomatic courier services. The most =
important thing now is to gain your trust and have your word of honor. Once =
the funds get to you, you take your 40% out and keep our own 60%. Your own =
part of this deal is to find a safe place where the funds can be sent to.
Our own part is sending it to you. If you are interested I will furnish you =
with more details. The whole process is simple and we must keep a low profile =
at all times.
Waiting for your response.
My private email address is makomi2007@aim.com
Regards,
Capt. Lucky Makomi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam