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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • drjackkryan@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Online Contact Information Inc <infomnrhtsmmlf@yahoo.dk> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:59:28 +0300
Subject: [SPAM] ATTN BENEFICIARY, KEEP ME POSTED ON MRS JANE WILL TO YOU.........


Spam detection software, running on the system "scyla.uth.gr", has
identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message
has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label
similar future email. If you have any questions, see
the administrator of that system for details.

Content preview: Attn Beneficiary, Ref. #: GRSC/1000WZ87 File #: EGFSC/145000wz3-5091
Willed: Mrs. Jane. Mayon Amount: $10,000,000.00 USD Please do keep me posted
ASAP via my any below email and explain to me if the funds has been released
to you. Please keep me posted in deatils for advise and confrimation. Please
reply to any of my emails {drjackr@ymail.com or drjackkryan@hotmail.com}
[...]

Content analysis details: (10.4 points, 4.9 required)

pts rule name description
---- ---------------------- --------------------------------------------------
3.2 FROM_LOCAL_NOVOWEL From: localpart has series of non-vowel letters
2.3 SUBJ_ALL_CAPS Subject is all capitals
2.6 RCVD_NUMERIC_HELO Received: contains an IP address used for HELO
2.3 US_DOLLARS_3 BODY: Mentions millions of $ ($NN,NNN,NNN.NN)
-0.0 AWL AWL: From: address is in the auto white-list

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam