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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
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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:

• 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. )
  • "confidential business" (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 highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Lois Phillips <loisphilli@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: loisphil@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 05:33:30 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hello,




Hello;
           My name is Mrs.. Lois Phillips a British citizen, I am employed by the Barclays Bank of England. My job involves dealing on behalf of clients with packaging and courier services. After going through your profile while doing a little research, I find out that you seem like an honest and trustworthy person who can handle confidential business with me. What I am about to disclose to you is highly confidential and I trust that you will keep my confidence.
 
A sum of US$11,600 000.00 was supposed to be moved from my bank to a certain client through a courier services. After doing all the processes to move the funds, the package containing the money was returned to me a couple of times, reason being the recipient did not turn up to receive or claim it. I have kept this money deposited with a security Company here in England as a family treasure under my close monitoring for a very long time now and this issue has been bothering me a lot.
 
The reason for contacting you is; I have decided to quite my job and resettle in your country and now want the money to be moved to your country, where you will receive it and keep it safe for me until I come over to meet with you there. I need a business partner and friend who will advise me on proper investments in your country and how I can live comfortably. What I need is someone trustworthy to receive the money for me and I think you might fit that profile.
 
I have made all the arrangements and plans to enable me to move the money from England to any country of my choice without hindrance. Your assistance is to help in receiving money and investing the money, you will benefit a reasonable part of the total money.
 
Please reply this message as soon as you read it to let me know your mind on this proposition. If I am convinced that you are totally willing to cooperate with me on this assignment; I will give you my full contact details in England and I would appreciate it very much if you give me yours including your phone number where I can reach you.
Once again, I would appreciate your regard of this matter as highly confidential.
 
Regards,
Mrs. Lois Phillips

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam