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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:
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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Helen Gunta <helengunta03@msn.com>
Reply-To: <helenguntaci@hotmail.fr>
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 18:28:53 +0000
Subject: Dearest One,




Dearest One,

Good day, firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency and importance of the information. This project is based on Trust, confidentiality and sincerity of purpose in order to have an acceptable meeting of the minds.

In a brief introduction, my name is Miss Helen Gunta from the republic of Cote D’Ivoire ( Ivory Coast ) in West Africa . I knew my message came to you as a surprise because we have not met before, but I still believe we should give ourselves chance to know each other. I have in my possession documents covering the deposit of US$3,700.000.00 (Three Million seven hundred thousand United States dollars) deposited by my late father with the bank here in Ivory Coast ( Cote D’Ivoire ). I have being in contact with the bank to verify the deposit and everything is still intact and its authenticity is clear. This fund is realised from the sale of alluvial gold dust which my late father dealt on when he was still alive.

I am soliciting your kind assistance in retrieving and claiming this fund from the bank here as my father's business associate or my guardian and have it transferred to your nominated bank account in your country for investment as I will join you once the fund is transferred for continuation of my education, share of percentage and investment alike. You will also serve as the guardian to this fund as I am a novice in the field of investment. I will give you further details as soon as I hear from you, and we will discuss terms and percentage subsequently but you must treat this message as highly confidential.

I await your response.

Best wishes

Ms. Helen Gunta.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam