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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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: phanthony@seznam.cz
Reply-To: phil_anthony1@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:26:27 +0100 (CET)
Subject: =?us-ascii?Q?Dear=20Respectful=2C?=

Dear Respectful,

I am Philip Anthony, I am writing this letter and also appologise for any inconvenience this might cause you especially since we have not meet before or either discuss in anyway about this matter, however i wish you can give me this assistance since i have no choice than to rely on your help.

I lost my parents in a ghastly auto accident, However before my Father died, he was holding a strategic Economic post in our community as the Chairman ecological compensation panel, this panel was set up when the angry mood (THE YOUTHS) were agitating for settlement by the shell development Oil company since the community were forbided to farmer or operate within the Shell areas of operation.

By now, you will be worried to know why you are concern or why I need your help, according to my fathers before he died, the Director of Finance and Supply representing Shell Develoment Oil Company in the effort to orchestrate a trade agreement, offered my father the sum of $5,650,000.00 while the community were given the sum of $10,000,000.00 against their demand of $40,000,000.00 for damages incured. The Youths however threatened to kill My father for allegedly accept the money on behalf of the community and he was accuse of conspiracy.

This action prompted my father to come to Abidjan as a refugee to sort for a new brighter live with a good business unfortunately he died in accident here in Abidjan where I am communicating you, right now,this money $5,650,000.00 is in a bank and my aim of contacting you,is to help me get the deposit out of this country to Europe or America where I know we can make good investment with it than in Africa where there is constant political crisis.

Based on this reasons,I believe I can trust you like i have said before, Show me your goodwill to give me this assistance so that I can give you every information concerning the money and the bank where it was deposited for more clarification, your assistance will be greatly rewarded as soon as we get the money transfered to your bank account on my behalf.

I hope to hear from you urgenly.
Yours Faithfully,
Philip Anthony

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam