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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
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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:
  • "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 us 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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "judithmakoulou91 Gazeta.pl" <judithmakoulou91@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 20:05:03 +0200
Subject: Urgent from a sister.


Dear Sir / Ma,
Compliments.
I'm a Female,a Model Fashion Artisan. Judith Abdulrasak Makoulou is my name,
From Congo Democratic, I'm 21 years old. I would like if you could assist me
to retrieve my Dad's inheritance with a security company in Cotonou Benin

republic, and invest the inheritance into Model Fashion Industry, and other
areas in your counrty? My Dad and family died on plane crash with his
Lebanese business partner and his family too, in the year 2003 when they
were travelling to Lebanon for a festival,and I was in the village at Ghana
with my grand mother by then she was alive. By then my grandy gave me some
documents stated that some money were deposited on my name by my Dad, worth
$9 million US dollars. And I have went to the company to claim the
inheritance but their office was demanding from me the demurrage clearance
money to enable their company release the inheritance to me. But i don't
have such money they demanded for. Right now i'm in a refugee camp in
Cotonou Benin republic, because my lodging money had exhusted. Pls, let me
to know if you can assist me so that I will give you other information in
this regard. Await.
Remain blessed.
Judith A. Makoulou

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam