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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22507653678 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • 225-07653678robinsonhenry@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: Hnery Robinson <henry_rob30@msn.com>
Reply-To: <robinsonhenry@hotmail.fr>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:37:17 +0000
Subject: Mutual Benefit



Mutual BenefitFrom Henry RobinsonAbidjan Cote D'IvoireTel:+225-07653678robinsonhenry@hotmail.fr Dear Sir/Madam, My name is Henry Didow Robinson 22yrs i am from zimbabwe. It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture,there is this Amount of money Eight million Five Hundred thousand Dollars ($8,500,000.00) which my late Father Mr.Steven Robinson kept for me in a Bank here in Abidjan before he was assasinated by unknown persons becuase of his farm in zimbabwe as my father was white and my mother is Black my mother was killed by the government, before my father was assasinated.Now, I have decieded to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside this country for security purposes.I want you to help ME to transfer this fund to your country for investment purposes as MY late father advice ME AS HIS only SON to look for a partner abroud that can help me to invest this money on the followings below: 1). Telecommunication 2). International School 3). Five star hotel If you can be of an assistance to me i will be pleased to offer you 10% Of the total fund as soon as i hear from you,i will lead you to the bank where my late father deposited this money and ask the bank to transfer the money to your account.If your are ok with my proposal,This is the informations i need from you (1) Your Full name................... (2) Your Full address................ (3) Your telephone/Fax Numbers....... (4) Your Age/Occupation.............. I await your soonest response. Extend my warmest regards to your entire family. Thank you and God bless you Henry Robinson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam