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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:
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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:

• 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:
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • ryanbolton2009@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Ryan Bolton <rynbolton031@msn.com>
Reply-To: <ryanbolton2009@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:15:52 +0000
Subject: Urgent Reply



Hello, I am an investment consultant working with Bank Of Scotland, HBOS. at their Offshore Department Edinburgh, Scotland. I will be happy to work this deal out with you if you have a coperate or personal Bank Account and if you are capable to keep TOP SECRET. I need strong Assurance that you will never let me down, if I transter this money to your account. During one of our periodic auditing, I discovered a dormant accounts with holding balance of £36,000.000.00 {Thirty Six million British Pounds Sterlings only} this account has not been operated for the past years. As at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. If you are not familiar with my Bank profile, you are free to ask. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested, on replying send the account information as below together with your international passport: Bank Name................Bank Address.............Beneficiary Name......... Account Number...........Swift Code...............Your Tel/Fax Numbers.....State & Country.........Company name ..........(If any). Thank you for your time and attention. Warmest regards, Mr.Ryan Bolton. Contact via E-mail: ryanbolton2009@myway.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam