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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Ben Whyte <whyteben@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: whyteben1@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:09:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATTENTION,


Dear Partner,

In order to transfer out £30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million Pounds Sterling)from our bank here I have the outrage to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important transaction, believing that you will never let me down either now or in future.

my name is Whyte ben, I am the auditor and head of computing department of a bank here in Scotland, United Kingdom. There is an account opened in this bank in 1995 and since my inception into office in 2001, nobody has operated on this account again,after going through some old files, I discovered that if i do not remit this money out urgently, it will be forfeited for nothing.

I will use my position and influence on other staffs to effect the legal approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance from foreign payment department.With assurance that this money will be intact pending untill my physical
arrival in your country for the sharing and possible investments.You stand to get 40% of the total sum while 5% will be for expenses that will be encured during the process of this transfer and the remaining 55% will be for me.

I will fill you in with further details upon your reply God less.please reply immediately to my private email:

Thanks
Sincerely,


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam