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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:

• 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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22507083920 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • w.suzan_family@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "william alfarouk" <27williams@gala.net>
Reply-To: w.suzan_family@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:34:04 +0000
Subject: From Williams and Suzan Alfarouk/Appeal for Assistance.


From Williams and Suzan Alfarouk/Appeal for Assistance.

Dearest One,

Greetings,We are Williams and Suzan Alfarouk from Sierra Leone.We are
writing you from Rep of Cote D'Ivoire where we Have been taking refuge after
the brutal war and killing of our parents and burning our properties by the
rebels during the renewed Fighting in our country Sierra Leone,Because of
the war our late Father sold his shipping company and took us to a nearby
country Cote d'Ivoire where he deposited US$18, 300,000.00 Million(Eighteen
Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in his foreign account
with one of the bank here in Cote d'Ivoire.
We got your contact and We have prayed before contacting you with the trust
and faith in God that you will be of help to me and my Sister who is
seriously sick now coupled with the political situation in Cote D'ivoire
now,We are seeking for your honest assistance to help us transfer this
money into your account for a good investment Project in your country and
also relocate to your country to further our education.
We are willing to offer you 15% of the total sum for Your honest
assistance.Please for your good information this transaction is 100% legal
and has no connection with any illegal transaction, Please Help us to get
out of this terrible situation and our Almighty God will bless you.Please
quickly contact us through this our email (w.suzan_family@yahoo.com) for
more details and kindly call us +225 07083920 for more informations.

Best Regards
Williams and Suzan Alfarouk.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam