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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
• 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.
  • +447035918622 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "ALF CAPITAL MANAGEMENT" <alfcapital2@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:40:42 -1200
Subject: ALF CAPITAL MANAGEMENT


ALF CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
LONDON- UNITED KINGDOM
ENGLAND .
46-48 East Smithfield
London
E1W 1AW
+44 703 591 8622
Reg: 1972

Sir/Madam,

We have received a payment notification from South African Government
instructing us to release your long over-due Inheritance fund which is the
sum of $6,500,000.00 {Six Million Five Hundred thousand U.S Dollars} the
South African Government sent this release order to us through their
Ministry of finance for us to gather details from your end and remit the
funds to you through our means of payment, either using our affiliate Banks
here in UK, America or using our diplomatic method of delivery.

You have to furnish us with these details for our official use only, your
full name, your residence or office address, your telephone and fax number,
your age and a scanned copy of your Id if available.

We anticipate hearing from you as the South African Government gave us a
mandate to complete all payments.


Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Edwin Clark
Protocol Officer

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam