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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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Adams Gibbons" <adgibbons@rya-online.net>
Reply-To: adams_gibbons@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:25:35 GMT
Subject: Read Carefully

Hello Friend,

In order to transfer US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United
States Dollars) from our Bank. I have the courage to look
for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for
this Important Business transaction, believing that you will
never let me down either now or in Future.

The owner of this account is MR. ABDUL MAHEZ foreigner and
the Manager Of petrol chemical service, a chemical engineer
by Profession and he died since on March 3rd, 2004. The
account has no other beneficiary And my Investigation proved
to me as well that his company does not know anything About
this account. I want to transfer this money into a safe
foreign account abroad but i don't know any foreigner, i
know that this message will come to you as a surprise as we
don't know ourselves before, but be sure that it is real And
A genuine business. I believe in God that you will never let
me down in this transaction, at the end of the business the
money will be paid into your account for us to share in the
ratio of 50% for me and 50% for you. If you are interested,
please reply immediately.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more
details and relevant documents that will help you understand
the transaction. Please observe utmost confidentiality in
this transaction, and be rest assured that this transaction
would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent Response.

Regards
Adams Gibbons

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam