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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • colebinfx@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: ben-cole1@live.com
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:08:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: My Proposition,


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



- Hello Friend, I am Mr.Ben Seal Cole. of the (First commercial Bank and Securities Services). I seek your assistance in clearing two Treasure Boxes containing the sum of Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$15.5million) which has been dormant in our vaults in the Past years. The said boxes were deposited by Mr. Christian Eich, who died in a plane crash on Wednesday, 26 July, 2000 in Germany. The website shown below will brief you in a more elaborated detailed insight about the rough incident of the plane crash that led to the death of my client.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/851119.stm . Going by the usual statutory rules governing our operation, the boxes shall be handed over to the UK government authorities as an unclaimed deposit within the next three months, details shall be made available to you as soon as I hear from you. I will give you my number to call me as soon as you reply this mail and signify your willingness to assist. Thanks & God Bless You. Mr.Ben Seal Cole

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam