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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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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Leonard Magwaya." <dr_leonard07@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2006 02:08:16 +0800
Subject: JOINT VENTURE INVESTMENT.

Dear sir,
I got your contact in my search for an honest man,
man that can be counted as trustworthy foreign partner to assist me transact a very
lucreative but confidential business.
First i must introduce myself to you,
I am Leonard Magwaya a former aide de camp and cousin to the late president of Democratic
Republic of Congo(DRC.)formerly known as Zaire.
The late president,Laurent Kabila was using me for diplomatic duties abroad to send money
out of the republic because he has feared that he might be overthrown or even
get killed as he wanted to provide for his children and family.
On this particular occasion where the president gave me the sum of fifteen million united
states dollars(Usd$15,000.000.00 dollars.)to carry abroad through diplomatic means,
to which was packed into a truck safe box.
However,after receiving the news of the presidents death i was faced with deciding
on what to do with the Usd$15,000.000.00 dollars in my possession,
i then decided to deposit the safe box containing the money with a private security company
and decleared it's contents as family treasure and valuables without
disclosing the real content to them. my objectives now are to invest this money in a
foriegn country like yours under joint investment venture,with you after the safe box has
been cleared from the security company.
I am by this mail asking you to assist me transfer this money to your personal/coroperate
account.
for your assistance i shall compensate you with 25% of the total sum,
i have also set aside 5% of the total sum for expenses that you and i might incur
in course of the transaction, while the remaining 70% will be for me and my family to which
you will help us to invest there in your country. i will furnish you with other details and
logistics as soon as you assured me of your suport and honesty,
trust and determination to help me out.

Regards.
Leonard Magwaya.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam