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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "my direct telephone number" (i.e. "call me on my cellphone at the Internet cafe where we scammers hang out")
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447011149174 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448712643736 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • adameswilliams@emailaccount.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "William Adams" <williamadamsmail@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:52:59 -1000
Subject: Next of Kin

Attn:

I have contacted you in the hope that you can be my associate to assume the
new recipient of a Fixed-Income deposit of my late client, valued at
$25million.

Once I file in your name as the new recipient, the funds will be approved
through the AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH) - A facility used by financial
institutions to distribute electronic debit and credit entries to bank
accounts and settle such entries. Under the automated clearing house system,
banks exchange checks and drafts drawn upon each other and settle their
daily balances.

Credit advice will be issued in your favour and the funds will clear your
account within three banking days.

I will be willing to give you 20% as your commission of the $25million and
I hope you will be honest enough to observe my share in spite of the funds
coming through your account.

Looking forward to working with you.

William Adams.
Principal Credit control Officer.

NOTE: You should call me immediately you finish reading this mail.
My direct telephone number is: Tel: +44-701-114-9174 Fax: +44-871-264-3736
and send me mail as well on: adameswilliams@emailaccount.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam