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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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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "30% for you " (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.
  
• 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.
  • +447035923235 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Owen" <johnowen0@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: dr_john20062000@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 14:53:24 -0700
Subject: VERY URGENT.


Hello,

My Name is Mr. Owen John . I am contacting you in respect of my friend who
was killed with his family during the war in Sudan. I want you to come and
make claims to the money he deposited in my branch before his death. The
said fund is to the tune of £25, 000,000.00 & I want you to come and make
claims for our mutual benefits,in your country. My friend was a former Gen.
in the Republic of Sudan.

To the best of my knowledge, the said sum is currently deposited in a
security company here in London. If you are interested, please, kindly get
back to me so that we can procced with the necessary step to achive this
goal.

As soon as you indicate your interest, a MOU will be sent to you which will
endorse by both parties. The MOU stands as a bond between both parties.
Modalities, 60% will be for me, 30% for you and 10% for any expences incured
in the process.

Get back to me if only you are interested.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Owen John.
Tel: 44 703 592 3235.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam