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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • zackobi3@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Zack Obi" <zackobi03@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 22:48:27 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ATTN: DEAR,

I must apologize for this unsolicited proposal but I
want you to consider it as a request with the best of
intentions.I am Mr. Zack Uchenna Obi the branch manager
of Allstates Trust Bank Plc.I got your esteemed
address through Internet business text in my search
for a reliable individual/company who can handle a
strictly confidential transaction, which involves the
transfer of a reasonable sum of money to a foreign
account.

This amount of money is total sum ofUS$7.5million
(Seven Million five hundred thousand United States
Dollars), it belong to one of our customer Mr.
Richard.W.Lords who died some years ago without leaving
any next of kin to claim his money.

I have personally tried to trace his relatives without
any success's and would like you to apply as the next of
kin to the bank and have the money transferred to your
account since it has being laying dormant all this
while or it would be soon transferred to the national
treasury since it the law governing the bank system of
our country when the money is transferred you get 25%,
while 65% goes to me and 10% would be for expences,
mind you when the money has being transferred to your
account I will come over to your country and invest it
in any business that you see fit to invest in.

lf this business proposal is of interest to you, then
kindly contact me via my direct Email address
( zackobi3@excite.com ).Meanwhile, your immediate
response will be highly appreciated. Please treat this
information as confidential.

I assure you the transaction is 100% risk free.

Best regards,

Mr. Zack Obi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam