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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:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: t.james6463@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 16:01:01 +0530 (IST)
Subject: From Mr:Thomas James.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: t.james7473@yahoo.in



- From . Mr Thomas James.Kindest Attention:My name is Mr Thomas James, I am from Portugal.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer.It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live,according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for.But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived.I got your contact amongs others from a search into the internet and was inspired to seek your co-operation, I want you to help me clear this package that is already in the United States which I shipped th!
rough our HSBC accredited courier agent. The content of the package is $20,000,000.00 all in $100 bills but the courier company does not know that it is money that I have in the package.All I want you to do for me now is to act as my Nominated Beneficiary ( NEXT OF KIN ) that will make the claim of the consignment on my behalf.Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have Distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E,Somalia and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakista!
n, they refused and kept the money to themselves.Hence, I do not trust
them any more,as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Twenty Million United States Dollars ($20,000,000,00) all in $100 bills that I have with an Asset Management Company Abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations.l will give you more details when i get your reply to this mail.Thanks Mr:Thomas James.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam