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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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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • vresiadu@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Victor Asiedu <raymondav51@msn.com>
Reply-To: <roymond_ck@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 16:51:33 +0000
Subject: CAN I DO THIS BUSINESS WITH YOU?



Dear Friend:



I know you would be surprised to read from someone relatively unknown to you before. My names are Mr. Victor Raymond Asiedu, Branch manager of the financial institution here in Accra Ghana.



I have a business deal in my department valued $4,750,000.00 Million United State Dollars but needed a foreign person to lay claim to it with my directives. Can you guarantee safety of my share of the funds and also the secrecy of this transaction?. I must be sure of my share safety before given you the details of the transaction as we have not met each other before. It will be Bank to Bank transaction. All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund so that the fund can be legally processed to your name and be transferred to your account, and our sharing percentage ration will be 30/70 between us.



I will give you full details about this transaction when I receive your affirmative response.



Cordially yours,



Mr. V.R. Asiedu.
Email: vresiadu@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam