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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • ",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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Paul Essien <pa.essien7@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: pessien5@adinet.com.uy
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:10:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Paul and Lilian Essien This may be an answer to all your prayers


Compliment,

NOTE: Before you proceed reading this mail,this is true and not one of those mails  you see on the internet,i tell you the gospel truth i only need you to help me so  that we can smile in future,GOD bless you as you read.I am a political activist. I am also a member of my party's executive committee on contracts bases.I got your full  information from Chamber of Commerce and industry on foreign business relations here  in Accra-Ghana.And i believed you must be trustworthy and honest main looking at your profile.
 
My aim of contacting you is to crave your indulgence to assist us in securing some  funds  abroad for safe keeping which incidentally was kept to help us finance our  elections which  hold on 7th December 2008. Fortunately with my immediate assistance, and contact, we were  able to deposit the money in a Bank security vault pending when the fund would be needed.

We wish to relocate this fund in a foreigner's name to avoid any trace. All I need  from you  is an assurance that you can handle the amount involved (US$19,500,000)  comfortably and that  I can also trust you with this arrangement. Be rest assured  that there is no risk involved  since I have taken care of everything after the  election. I want you to immediately inform  me of your willingness in assisting and  co-operating with us, so that I can send you full  details of this transaction and we will make arrangement and discuss at length on how to  transfer this funds.
 
NOTE: I know there may be scams and junk mails flying here and there on the internet  but certainly, this is not one. Please do not fail to understand that in spite of all that, opportunities of this kind still abound. If you have ever wished or prayed for  something good to come your way, now I urge you to take this message seriously and  with an open mind. You could never know. This may be an answer to your prayers.So  please give it a benefit of doubt, and with good faith and trust join me and I am  assuring you now that you will never be disappointed.Kindly respond back to me

Yours sincerely,
Paul and Lilian Essien

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam