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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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • hajafaruk@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "haja faruk" <hajafaruk23@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 15:38:22 +0000
Subject: contact me asap

Al salaam,
My name is Haja Faruk from Brunei I am a 23 years old and a british citizen
who was taken to Brunei by my father 10 years ago. He deceived me that I was
going there on vacation and later married me out to a wealthy Prince in
Brunei who is 30 years older than me. I was thus forced into marriage and
when I objected I was beaten and raped by this Prince. I was locked up in a
house for six months after which I submitted and decided to accept my faith,
knowing that was the only way out. After I got my freedom back I have been
allowed by my husband to have access to his account and businesses. With the
help of a loyal aide I have been able to divert $4.500.000.00 (four million
five hundred thousand dollars)as bonds into a private finance house without
his knowledge. Right now I have mapped out a plan of escape out of
Brunei,thou I have tried escaping several times and its been fruitless.
first of all I have been able to move the fund out of Brunei. This is where
I need your assistance,to help me secure the fund from the finance house
before I get out of Brunei if I am lucky enough. If you know you are capable
of handling such a huge amount of money respond to me and I will compensate
you by giving you $1.000.000.00 (one million dollars) of the total fund.
Note also that you must keep this transaction secret as my life is at stake
if my husband or any of his relatives hear of this transaction they will
stone me to death or hang me. Please reply me here :

hajafaruk@netscape.net

Yours faithfully,

Haja Faruk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam