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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:

• 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)
  • ",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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: stephen pablo <s_tephenpablo25@msn.com>
Reply-To: <audstephen100@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 12:48:29 +0000
Subject: GOOD NEWS



Hello, Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although, I Wish to use this medium to get in touch with you because it's fastestmeans. I am an external auditor of a well-known bank here in the United Kingdom. In one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant accounts with holding balance of £150,000,000 (One Hundred & Fifty Million British Pounds), which has not been operated for the pastthree years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a foreigner who died long ago and since then nobody has done anything as regardsthe claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds. I have secretly discussed this matter with a top senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance here and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with us although due to his position he did not want to take active part but as soon as you follow my instructions everything will be successful because we will be working hand in hand with him. With this purpose to do business with you, standing in as the n ext of kin of these funds from the deceased and after due legal processes have been followed the fund will be released to your account without delay and we will use it for investment and to assist the less privileged in the societies because if we left the fund with the government it will be fortified for nothing and will be used to suppress the poor masses in the society. This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does notoriginate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act. Finally, I will give you 40% for your cooperation, 10% will be for miscellaneous expenses that both parties might have incurred during this process. I would want you to understand that thisis a DEAL. On receipt of your response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual benefit transaction. Do contact me immediately whether or not you are interested in this deal. If you are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign Partner to carry out this deal. But where you are interested, contact me URGENTLY for more details astime is of the essence in this business. Please observe utmost confidentiality, 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 real estate within your country. You should send me your account informa tion as states below where you like the money to be transfer so that I can send application for the release of the fund immediately with your account information. Even an empty account is ok. Bank Name................. Bank Address...................... Beneficiary Name................... Account Number.......................... Swift Code..................................... Your Tel/Fax Numbers............................. State & Country.................................... Occupation........................... I look forward hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested. Regards, Mr.Stephen Pablo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam