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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "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. )
  • ",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.
  
• 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.
  • mjj012007@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Melissa Williams" <williamsmelissa3@colombia.com>
Reply-To: mjj012007@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 20:43:19 +0100
Subject: Mrs. Mirabel Johnson and son


My Dear,

It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venturewhich I and my Son
Jonnas,intend to establish in your country.

Though I have not meet with you before but I believe,one has to
riskconfidence in other to succeed sometimes in life.There is this
hugeamount of Ten million U.S dollars($10,000,000.00) which my late
Husbandkept for us in a Security Company in Abidjan
before he was assasinatedby unknown persons.

Now I and my son have decided to invest thesemoney in your country or
anywhere safe enough outside Africa forsecurity and political reasons.We
want you to help
us claim and retrievethese fund from the Fiduciary Fund Holders and transfer
it into yourpersonal account in your country for investment purposes on
theseareas:

1). Telecommunication
2). the transport industry
3). Fivestar hotel

If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased tooffer to you 10%
Of the total fund. Please get back get back to me my private email address
mjj012007@yahoo.fr

I await your soonest response

Respectfully yours,

Mrs. Mirabel Johnson and son

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam