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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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: "emmanuel shaw" <emmashaw10@msn.com>
Reply-To: emmashaw102@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:06:24 +0000
Subject: MR SHAW

Dear Sir/Madam,


I am Mr. Emmanuel Shaw, The Former Minister of Finance in Liberia during the
regime of President Samuel Dow. I am 58 years old. I have been indicted by
the United Nations Security Council concerning what they referred to as
"Conducts that tend to Fuel Conflict in the Sub Region" and also
"Allegations of Funding Rebellion in neighboring Sierra Leone".

I am innocent of these charges. As a result of this the UN Security Council
have ordered the freezing of my accounts and all my assets since October
2004 and also imposed all sorts of Economic Sanctions on my business
activities. I have been banned from any form of business engagements till
further notice. All my businesses have been halted for months now. I have
started to feel the impact of these sanctions.

Prior to these problems, I am a member of the board and major shareholder in
the mobile phone company, Lone Star Communications. Even though all my
shares in this company have been frozen, I have stashed away some funds
which I made from the company before the interruption of the UN. I have this
money stashed in a very good security company in Europe and it is
untraceable. It was deposited as family treasure.

All I want from you is to help me get this money out and invest it for me on
a lucrative business in your country. Please I need your assistance. My
family has started feeling the heat.

This is 100% risk free transaction and profit-oriented and I have chosen to
strike this deal with you if you will not mind. Based on this your
attention is highly needed to execute this deal. I will offer you 10% of the
funds and you can as well go into JOINT VENTURE with a member of my Family.

Finally, I would like if you to send your phone and fax contact details,
postal address, direct telephone numbers/mobile so as to reach you and
discuss this matter with you and upon the receipt of your positive response,
I will commence negotiation with the security company to have the Funds
released to my nominated proxy hence giving you the status to be the sole
beneficiary.

I am looking forward to hear from you. I will call you on phone as soon as I
received your phone contact so that we can discuss on this matter in detail.

Thanks and God Bless.
Regards.

E. Shaw

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam