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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:
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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.

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:
  • "account in your country or any safer place" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • mbahie89@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "bahie marie" <mbahie@mailbox.hu>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 13:50:30 +0000
Subject: FROM MISS MARIE BAHIE


FROM MISS MARIE BAHIE
ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE
DEAR ONE ,

I am Miss Marie Bahie in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. I'm an orphan , I lost my
parents a few years ago.

My father was a director of the Department of exporters of cocoa board until
his death. He was killed by the rebels following the political uprising here
in Cote d'Ivoire. Before his death, he had an account in a bank here with a
sum of of US$14M, which he said the bank was on the import of machines for
processing of cocoa. I want you to do me a favour to assist me and receive
the money into a safe account in your country or any safer place as the
beneficiary and I will give you 20% of the total sum for your kind
assistance.

I have plans to invest this money in business in your country with you. This
is my reason for writing, if you will be of interest to help me, I will be
very grateful that you indicate your interest by responding as soon as
possible with your full names and contact address and private telephone and
fax numbers so that I will submit it to the bank for the transfer of this
money in your account which you will send directly to the bank here when I
give you the contact of the bank.

If you would like more information, please contact me immediately on my
private address:
E-mail: mbahie89@yahoo.com

Sincerely,
From Miss Marie Bahie,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam