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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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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million us 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)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: <tnana@centrum.cz>
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:55:56 +0100
Subject: From Mr Thomas Nana.



From Mr Thomas Nana.
Villa 6 Riviera 11 Cocody-Abidjan
Cote D'Ivoire,=C2=A0 West Africa.
=C2=A0
Hello,
=C2=A0
I am Mr Thomas Nana, the bill and exchange manager in one of the Commerci=
al banks here in COTE D'IVOIRE I have a very confidential and urgent fina=
cial notification for you. A floating sum of ($10.850 million US dollars)=
belonging to one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire=
family in a plane Crash 2005,
=C2=A0
Since his death, we have been expecting his next of Kin to come over and =
claim his money because we can not release it unless somebody applies for=
it as next of Kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our bankin=
g and financial policies but unfortunately all the efforts proved abortiv=
e.
=C2=A0
I want this fund to be paid into your account for us to share in 50/50 pr=
opotion,=C2=A0 all I need from you is unity of purpose, honesty and you w=
ill promise me that you will not run away with this fund.
=C2=A0
Do not view this as been illegal but an opportunity for us to help enrich=
our hope in life instead of the bank converting this much money to the s=
ecurity funds.I have made all verification and perfected arrangement for =
a clean and successful execution of the transaction within few days of co=
mmencement.So there is no risk involved. I require you treat this letter =
with the utmost urgency.


Thank you for your understanding as await your urgent response to enable =
me give you more details.please reply with these information's below so t=
hat we can know each other very well.
=C2=A0
Your International passport or ID card...
Your age...............................................
Your private telephone and fax numbers............
Your country........................................
Your profession....................................
=C2=A0
Remain blessed,
Mr Thomas Nana

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam