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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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)
  • "million 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "mobutu sesauh" <mobutu_ses2@msn.com>
Reply-To: rkw@walla.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 01:38:10 +0000
Subject: PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Your name and email address was made available to me
by world trade center a trade directory in my country
though I didn’t disclose my real intention to them. My
name is Sesuah Mobutu the son of the late President of
Democratic Republic of Congo, who us now dead and
bless memory.

I am interested in investing about twelve million
united states dollars (US$12 MILLION) in your esteemed
company by my late Father of bless memory, in a fixed
deposit with a maturity date of some years. However,
the date of maturity of the money is due and my Father
is dead, and I been the first son automatically become
the beneficiary of the money. But ever since the death
of my father our family have been having legal battle
with the new Government of our country which have
resulted in the confiscation of my father properties
and assert and also the frozen of this bank account
both home and abroad.

Now that the maturity date of the money is due, and I
don’t intend to keep this money in our country for
fear that it will be discover and size pending a long
legal battle therefore I wish to look for a reputable
company abroad where I can invest this money.

Consequently, I can arrange to have this money move to
Europe by cash so that you can go and take delivery of
it. And for your involvement, I have decided to reward
you with three million united states dollars (US$ 3m)
and the rest of the money I will invest in your
company, and also any money you spend will be deducted
from my share of the money.

If you are interested let me know so that I will go
ahead and make the necessary arrangement about the
movement of the money to Europ.

Regards.

Sesuah Mobutu.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam