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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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: wallakoffi_k@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:55:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Reply or contact me through +228-9952042.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: wallakoffi65@ymail.com



- From Mr. Walla K Kadanga. Auditing & Accounting Department of Ecobank PLC lome-Togo. Tell:00228 9952042. Dear Sir, I wish this my proposal will not come to you as a surprise.I am Mr. Walla K Kadanga,a Regional Director of Ecobank Lome-Togo(Economic community of West African Bank) with regional Office here in Lome-Togo.We had a foreign client,who used to work with Shell International Republic of Togo,he deposited a huge amount of $4.5m(Four million five hundred thousand United States Dollars),with our Bank. Eventually this client,died on the 21st of April 2003,our client,his wife and their children were involved in a car accident along Kara-Sokode expressway while arriving from a Holiday to Lome,Togo. A sitaution I have monitored closely with my position in the Bank. Now, having monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his death, and hence nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past four years plus, I have removed the file to my private vault. I seek your consent to present as the next of kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. I now solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement has being concluded by me and I am only waiting for a foreigner to enable me move the fund to his designated foreign bank account in his country. This does not have any risk attached to it as all the internal documentations will be handled by me. I therefore request you to confirm your interest by a return message and I will furnish you with details but do not forget to keep this transaction a top secret. You will be entitled to 25% of the total sum as gratification,while 5% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone/fax bills, and 70% will be for me and my partner. I look forward to hearing from you immediately you recieves this message. Best Regards, Mr.Walla K Kadanga.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam