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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • appiahruth@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Ruth Appiah <appiahruth@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: ruthappiah85@jmail.co.za
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:13:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Assistance


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: appiahruth@rocketmail.com



- Dearest,My name is Ruth Appiah,a female of 23 years old and a 3rd year student of UNIVERSITY OF GHANA . My father was in the Precious Stone industry and owned mines in Tanzania, He also used to deal (buy and sell) in diamonds from Angola, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire).It is sad to say that he died of the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome - AIDS on the 15th July,2007.Two days after my father was pronounced HIV positive, my mother Committed suicide.Now, I can no longer walk freely on the streets, at school or even in the church without being pointed at or gossiped about. This development has affected me academically, physically and Psychologically and I have decided to come over to your country where I Would have peace to live and further my education and have contacted you to assist me to transfer out the sum of $US 5.3Million which my father deposited with Safety company, for my upkeep when it became Obvious he was going to die.I intend to invest this money in your business or any other business you deem healthy. However I will appreciate if you keep my letter confidential or delete if You do not accept my proposal, you will be rewarded with 20% of the total funds for your efforts.Thanking you in anticipation.Ruth Appiah

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam