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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
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• 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:
  • ",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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <ellen.williams19@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:42:57 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY,




GOOD DAY,

I hope that I am not embarrassing you with this mail because you did not expect it or know me before. but kindly rest assured that I have irresistible urge to write it believe me, the mail is an indication of love for you and happiness I shall always wish you .I am Miss. Ellen Williams 18 years old and the only Daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Williams the former president of Cote Ivorian chambers of Cocoa & Coffee Dealers Association.

My late father was very wealthy cocoa & coffee dealer my mother died after some years I was born and my father was poisoned to death by his political members .before his death my father told me that he made the next of kin of a fund, he deposited the sum of USD($9.2,000,000)DOLLARS only . In the bank here, I went to the bank and confirm that my father really make me the next kin of this money, Now I want to transfer the money into your account in your country because the people that killed my father is after my life now to make sure that our family are drastically whipped off. Infarct as I am writing to you now I am in hiding here .please if you can help to save my life and transfer this fund to your account.

I am deeply interested to offer to you 15% from the total money that is involved for transferring it into your own designated account again I will hand this money over to you to invest it for me wisely ,as you know , this is the highest confidence and trust any person can repose on the other especially when it is considered that we did not know ourselves before then you are expected to display high degree of maturity , responsibility , and understanding in handling this information so that our family enemies will not know that I am around .In getting me through your information .

I will give you every detail about the bank here for the transfer to carry on to your account. After you have indicated your interest and willingness to help me out of this problem to secure the money for a proper investment in your country .write to me as fast as to acknowledge this mail and thanks in anticipation, for confidentiality of this transaction please

Remain Bless In the Lord.

Best Regard

Miss. Ellen Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam