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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "former president of liberia" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • francisapafrancis@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Francis Apa" <francisapa21@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: francisapaa@rixmail.se
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 12:20:01 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

My name is Francis Apa one of the special assistant to former president of
Liberia Charles Taylor. Before now I was a member of the cabinet in previous
years before he resigned by the intervention of united nation for peace and
stability in the country of Liberia. We are presently now in the west coast
of Africa were the Government has graciously offered us political asylum but
our movements is completely restricted because my boss Mr. Charles Taylor
will face trial in the world court for atrocity he committed while he
was in power in Liberia.

However in the previous years I was in service in his government I made
secret deposits of valuable cash worth $285M and other jewelries into the
vaults of a classified security vault company known s Diplomatic Courier
Finance Limited on behalf of President Taylor with specific instructions. I
am sorry to say this now because the law of comma has hooked with my
boss as United Nation and the American Government has freeze all his assets
world wild with the exception of the $285M because I deposited the money on
my name and not on my boss name.

My intention now is to freight this money and other valuables out of Liberia
anonymously to a trusted foreigner who can receive the consignment on my
behalf; I assure you that there is absolutely no risk to you because nobody
knows of the existence of these funds.

If this offer is acceptable to you please contact me immediately also on
this email address: francisapafrancis@yahoo.com

For more information you can take look at the web site below.

Regards,


Mr. Francis Apa

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam