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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)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "trunk box" (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)
• This email message is a orphan 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.
  • masawi_4@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: masawi_4@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:32:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AWAITING YOUR URGENT REPLY.


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:masawi000@yahoo.com.ve



- DEAR FRIEND, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU WILL FEEL RECEIVING A SUDDEN BUSINESS LETTER FROM A REMOTE COUNTRY IN FAR AWAY GHANA WEST AFRICA AND PROBABLY FROM SOMEONE YOU HAVE NOT CLOSELY RELATED WITH. BUT ALL THE SAME, I BELIEVE WE DO NOT NEED TO BE OF BLOOD RELATIVES BEFORE WE CAN ESTABLISH CORDIAL/BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. HAVING SAID THIS, I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AT THIS JUNCTURE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU. I AM MASAWI KOKU THE SON OF LATE CHIEF JOHNSON KOKU MY MOTHER IS MRS. SANDRA KOKU FROM SUDAN, MY LATE FATHER WAS A DIAMOND AND GOLD MERCHANT IN OUR COUNTRY SUDAN. BEFORE HIS DEATH HE DISCLOSED A FUNDS WORTH $25 MILLION IN A TRUNK STEAL BOX THAT HE DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY WHICH HE WANT TO USE FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE, THE TRUNK BOX IS PRESENTLY IN USA. BEFORE MY LATE FATHER GIVE UP HE TOLD ME THAT AM THE NEXT OF KIN, HE ALSO TOLD ME TO LOOK FOR A TRUSTWORTHY BENEFICIARY WHO WILL ASSIST ME INVEST THE FUNDS IN A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS HENCE MY PROPOSAL TO YOU. UPON YOUR RESPONSE I SHALL FURNISH YOU WITH MORE DETAILS AND PLEASE, SEND US YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX ON YOUR REPLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS (masawi_4@yahoo.com) BEST REGARDS, MASAWI KOKU.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam