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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:
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "offshore 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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <ignatius_acheapong11@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:12:34 +0000
Subject: Good Day And Reply Soon



Good Day ,
I Thank God in the first place for granting me this opportunity for writing to you,This might be a surprise to you about how I got yourcontact address. I got your contact through the International web directory.I decided to contact you by email because I feel that it is more secured and private in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction that involves transfer of money in to a foreign account that require your assistance.My name is Mr.Ignatius.A.Koffi, a Ghanian Nationality
Following the approvals received by this office for the onward transfer of the above referenced fund, you are by this notice informed that your urgent assistance is required in receiving the approved fund floating in an offshore payment Account. This is as result of grossly over invoiced contracts which were executed by a (Deceased) national of Foreign country on the Oil Refineries in Sao Tome and Principe.This contract was deliberately over invoiced to the tune of £3.5 Million Pounds.This was a deal by my committee to benefit from the project.
I have therefore been mandated as a matter of trust to look for a foreign partner into whose account we could transfer the sum of £3,500,000.00 in an offshore account in a Bank in London (NATWEST BANK).If you are interested get back to me so that i can give you more details to contact NATWEST BANK PLC for approval of the payment in your favour.Send me your Full name and phone number to proceed.
Thank you,Mr.Ignatius.A.Koffi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam