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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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 us 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: "Mary Koffi" <mkoffi_3@msn.com>
Reply-To: marykoffi0032002@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 07:48:40 +0000
Subject: please get back to me

Dear,

Compliments of the day. I hope that this letter does not surprise you
because we have not met. However, I urge you to treat the information
which it contains with due and utmost attention. Apart from being
eternally grateful to you, I also assure that you shall be adequately
compensated.

My name is Mrs Mary Koffi. I am the wife of Mr.Vincent Koffi who
served as the chief security officer to president Kabah of Sierra
Leone. Unfortunately, my husband was killed During the over throw of
24th December 1997.

I came to know of you in my search of a reliable person to handle a
very confidential business transaction, which involves the transfer of
a huge sum of $5,000,000.0( five million US dollars) which was
deposited in a finance house ,the former president Tijan Kabah gave him
this money for safe keeping when he got information that the militaries
were planning to over throw him(KABAH).Unfortunately,my husband was
killed in that coup detract, and I am the only person who has all
the legal documents to claim this money.

My husband gave me all the legal documents that covers this fund
days before his death. I was waiting for things to cool down before
making my move but the recent crisis in my country has forced me
to make the move now.

Right now, the money is in a safe place.I am using this opportunity to
seek for your assistance to transfer this money into your account to be
invested in your country. All you need to do is to forward to me an
account where this money will be sent to, so that I and my son
(GEORGE)could come over to your country for investment.

We don't have any business to cover-up, that is why we need your
assistance. If you agree to this proposal, we shall discuss on the
parcentage and I will also forward to you all the legal documents that
covers this fund for confirmation.Please reply with this email address:
I awaits your quick response .
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Mary Koffi/ George (son).



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam