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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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: <ac_1000ac@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:51:54 +0000
Subject: My Dear Friend,



My Dear Friend,Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics. May I introduce myself i am Stefan Wool a staff member in the accounts management section of a bank here in London.One of our accounts with holding balance of £26,549,250 (Twenty five Million five Hundred and forty nine Thousand two Hundred and fifty British Pounds) has been dormant.From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a foreigner who died long time ago.Since then nobody has done anything as regards to claiming of this money as he has no family member who is aware of the existence of either the account nor the funds. Information from the National Immigration also states that he was single on entering the country.I have confidentially discussed this issue with one of the top official in the bank and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with, as the management is ready to Approve the funds to any foreigner who knows correct information of the account which i will give you once you are ready to work with me. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of the deceased and have the funds released to you after due processes have been followed.This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other Illegal act.On your interest, let me hear from you.Regards,Stefan Wool

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam