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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • foreign_deptboek@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "foreigndeptboe@mailbox.hu" <foreigndeptboe@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: foreign_deptboe@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 09:08:55 -0700
Subject: FROM: JOHN SMITH


BANK OF ENGLAND
Thread needle Street,
EC2R 8AH London

Attn:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT $9,000,000.00

>From the records of outstanding beneficiary due for payment with the
British Government, your name and file was discovered as next on the
list Of the outstanding beneficiary who have not received their
Payment.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
release to you as soon as you respond to this letter.

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what we have in your
record via my personal email address: foreign_deptboek@yahoo.co.uk

1) Your full name:
2) Phone, fax and mobile:
3) Contact Address:
4) Profession, age and marital status
5) Scanned copy of int'l passport or Driver License.

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to
you our paying center or through our diplomatic method, or via our
paying center here in London or any part of the world.

You must get back to me for the immediate release of your fund.

Yours faithfully,

John Smith
Control Officer
Foreign Payment Department
Bank of England

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam