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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "for your efforts, i am prepared to offer 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)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "the key word to this transaction is absolute confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • williamscharles93@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:20:12 -0800 (PST)
Subject: DEATH WHITE FARMERS WEALTH SUM OF ($7.5,000000). MILLION U.S DOLLARS


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: williamscharles93@yahoo.com



- With regards and honor do please consider this proposal.I am from Zimbabwe but currently i and my brother is in Spain.You might be worried how i got your contact address, I got it from Chamber of Commerce and trade e-mail directory.Dear friend during this crises against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their followers My father was one of the best farmers in the country and knowing that he did not support the presidents political ideology, the presidents supporters invaded my fathers farm burnt down everything, shot him and as a result of the wounds sustained, he became sick and died after four days.And after his death,I and my younger Brother decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives to South-Africa.from thier we where able to enter into a ship and travel to the Spain.But, before he !
died he wrote his will, which reads (MY BELOVEED SON ,I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SUM OF ($7.5,000000). MILLION U.S DOLLARS WHICH I DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN JOHANNESBURG (SOUTH-AFRICA)and i have ask them to transfer it to thier branch in the spain and secured it.IN CASE OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH CAUSED BY DEATH ONLY".You should solicit for reliable foreign partner to assist you to transfer this money out of spain(Madrid) for investment purpose.I deposited the money in your name and it can be claimed by you alone with the deposite code. your mother has all the documents.Take good care of your mother and brother.From the above, you will understand that the lives and future of my family depends on this money as much, I will be grateful if you can assist us.I and my younger brother are now living in the Spain as POLITICAL ASYLUM SEEKERS and the financial law of the Spain does not allow ASYLUM SEEKERS certain financial rights to such huge amount of money.In view !
of this, I cannot invest this money in the Spain,hence I am asking you
to assist me transfer this money out of Spain and secure it for investment purposes.For your efforts, I am prepared to offer you 10% of the total fund, while 2% will be set aside for local and international expenses and 88% will be kept for me and my family.Finally modalities on how the transfer will be done will be conveyed to you once we establish trust and confidence between ourselves. Looking forward to hear from you For more detailed information.NOTE:THE KEY WORD TO THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY.THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE. YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.BEST REGARDS,MR.WILLIAMS CHARLES

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam