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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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• 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.

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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:
  • "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.
  • richardkumbo17@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Richard Kumbo <richardkumbo17@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: richardkumbo20@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:22:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject:


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: richardkumbo17@yahoo.com



- MY DEAR,I AM IN A DESPERATE SITUATION WHICH I NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE NOW. I CAN NO LONGER HOLD BACK FOR FEAR OF PEOPLE NOT BEING HONEST WITH ME; I HAVE RESORTED TO TAKE MY FAITH IN MY HAND.MY LATE FATHER MR GODWIN KUMBO IS THE FORMER FINANCE MINISTER OF SIERRA LEONE,ME AND MY MOTHER WERE FORCED OUT OF THE COUNTRY DISGRACEFULLY BECAUSE OF MY FATHER INABILITY FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.MEANWHILE, MY LATE FATHER HAVE SOME OF HIS MONEY IN MY CARE LODGED IN WEST AFRICA COUNTRY VALUED (USD$18M MILLION).I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE THIS FUND IMMEDIATELY EVEN IF I HAVE TO SHARE IT ON A 70-30 BASIS WITH YOU.PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DESPERATE SITUATION THAT NEEDS YOUR ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR INTEREST. SEND ALL YOUR INFO PHONE AND FAX NUMBER HOPE I CAN TRUST YOU.I AM IN GHANA WHERE MY LATE FATHER DEPOSITED THE MONEY IN A SECURITY COMPANY.TRUST IS THE WATCHWORD FOR EVERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.HERE IS our PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS:REGARDS,RICHARD KUMBO AND SISTER

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam