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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Patrick Adams <pat.adams11@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: pat.adms1@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:52:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Good day


Good day Sir,

How are you doing?, I tried to talk with you on the telephone but to no avail, however I am Mr. Patrick Adams a Bank Director with International Commercial Bank (ICB) and personal financial control to the presidency.

I wish to inform you that I am willing to enter into a joint investment business with you or you investing for me in your country for a period of 2 years under your control after the transfer of the funds out from here to your nominated bank account.
I will be happy if the funds will be invested into a very lucrative business in your country where your government will not take much tax from my principal/capital sum. You can invest in the same area of business you are into or in different business sector (But not stock market exchange or banking/company shares)
However, I want you to know that all formalities have been put in place pending the confirmation of your particulars, signing of agreement and completing the transfer formalities of moving the funds out from here to your bank account, which I am 100% sure that it will not take us more than seven official working days to conclude.
I want you to know that this project is 100% risk free although we diverted the funds from the over tune of government contract and proposal to buy 312 Toyota 4X4 Land Cruiser Armored Vehicles for the presidency cabinets.
Now, the total of US$9,850,000.00 is in an escrow bank account system waiting to be assigned to a beneficiary and once I have your full details, I will complete the database formalities and your details will appear as the new beneficiary to the funds, since it is in open beneficiary at the moment.
Please, get back to me as soon as possible with the requested details above so that we can conclude this project as soon as possible and I am hoping to hear from you shortly,
please remember to include your personal telephone number. And upon your confirmation of assist me

Yours truly,
Patrick Adams



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam