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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• 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.

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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)
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "sani abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22997594835 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: joe joe <joe_joe003@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <mohammed_11abacha@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:38:29 +0100
Subject: My Dear Friend



My Dear Friend. THIS mail may come to you as a surprise but I plead with you to patiently read through it before making a decision whether to assist me or not,iam Mr.mohammed abacha,the son of late sani abicha the former prasidant of republic of nigeria, i dont forgate your pass efort to me last time, now i come to you with a something very top secret,i just escaped from prison nigeria, i spent three and half years just like that,now i am in benin republic where i hide myseif,because of nigeria authorities.that is why i contacted you as well?for you to assit me in tranfering this money into your receiving bank account?so that my happiness can be comlated and ican come to invest my money in yor county as well my late father sani abacha made a feast deposite of money on my name in bank in benin back for 12yaers but now i have nothing to hope for?that is the reason why i came to claimed up the money and look for a honest person that can assist me to transfer the funds out of benin rep .that is important reasons why i contacted you for assistances?pls dont fear anything i am the real owner of the money?i only need your trust and honest to assist me i will offer you 20% of the money as soon the transfer is concluded,i can not write to you the exact amonth of the money involved now,because of security reasons?it is a very big amonth of money in dollars,please reply this mail immedaitely you receive my message,the bank here in benin promise to assist me and my family for visa to any county that i wish to transfer my money to because of my present health condition Friend do not be afraid, lf you are interested in giving the required assistance, kindly reply this mail stating your full name, address and telephone/Fax numbers for further action. Looking forward to hear from you soon. reply me with my privert email mohammed_11abacha@yahoo.frFROMMr.mohammed abachaCall Me with +229 9759 48 35
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam