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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:
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "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: Helen Mesah <helenmesah02@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:47:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Madam Helen Mesah.


>From Madam Helen Mesah.

My Dear,

It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my Sons George and Henry intend to establish in your country.Though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk confiding in succeed sometimes in life.
I can confide on you for the brighter future of my children since you are a human being like me. There is this huge amount of TwentyEight Million united states dollars. ($28.000.000.00) $28 million which my late Husband kept for us in a Security Company here in Abidjan Cote D'ivoire before he was assasinated by unknown persons.Now I and my Sons George and Henry have decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough for security and political reasons.

We want you to help us claim and retrieve these fund from the Security company and transfer it into your personal account in your country for investment purposes on these areas:
1). Telecommunication
2). the transport industry
3). Five star hotel
4). Real Estate

I await your soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
Mrs Helen Mesah.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam