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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)
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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:
  • "transferred into your bank account" (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)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "williams bass" <williams_bass4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: william_bass@o2.pl
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 10:04:41 +0000
Subject: Your Assistance

Your Assistance
Dear sir,

My name is M.Williams Bass. I was the director of special duties to
president Charles Taylor in Liberia. We the former members of government are
no longer in Liberia.

We are currently in exile outside our country. I am requesting your
cooperation for immediate acceptance of my US$11,000,000.00 {Eleven Million
United States Dollars Only}. This amount is my compensation from unofficial
payments made to our government by foreign buyers of our major export,
diamonds, which were under my supervision.

As the former Director of Special Duties, President Charles Taylor
compensated me with these funds during our last days in Liberia before we
handed over power to the interim government last summer.

All that has to do with the US$11M are decent, morally sound, and legal. But
the money is in United States Dollars, which attracts undue attention
especially when it is connected with someone in and around government.

I therefore request that you receive and keep the funds on my behalf until I
am able to take back control of it in a short period of time. Please reply
me urgently so you can receive the amount into your bank account. Once the
money is in your account, feel free to keep 20% of it for your personal use
as compensation for your efforts, while the balance will be kept for me
until I can take control of it.

We shall sign a formal partnership agreement and I can also make available
my detailed profile and photographs to assure you of my honesty and good
faith. Send me the following

1. Your direct telephone and fax numbers.

2. Bank account details where you want the money transferred into.

I need to call you and speak with you on phone and also fax you the relevant
documents before the funds will be transferred into your bank
account.information:PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME URGENTLY BY E-mail:<
william_bass@o2.pl >

Yours faithfully,
Mr.Williams Bass
william_bass@o2.pl

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam