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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "maryam abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "ronald duke" <duke_ronald@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: duke_ronald@ny.com
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:29:00 +0000
Subject: Respond to me

FROM THE DESK OF: Barrister Duke Ronald(Esq) ATTN: My name is Barrister Duke
Ronald(Esq)\, I am a private attorney . and I have a client who is
interested in investing some good money in your country. My client is a very
important and prominent person who has mandated me to contact you for a very
important business transaction my client is by name Mrs. Maryam Abacha and
she is the wife of a Late Military heard of state in my country. Her husband
Late General Sanni Abacha made a lot of money through Oil proceeds during
his tenure in office. In fact it was discovered after his death that he was
worth well over $4.5 billion in United State Dollars and some of this money
was retrieve after he died while some was recovered from officials that
served under him during his reign as president of Nigeria. The truth of this
case is that my client despite the problem she is going through now, she
still has a lot of money in her possession, which she intends to invest
outside our country. What my client need from you now is reliable account
where she an transfer some money but mind you, all the money in her
possessions cannot leave at once because she need to build confidence and
trust. In some who would not expose her plan to remit and possibly invest in
your company . so she has agreed that I should make arrangements for the
transfer of $30.5 million United States dollars and you are free to
negotiate your mode of compensation even as she intends to invest the money
in your country. Please, do not hesitate to indicate your view of this
request by contacting me immediately you receive this mail so that the
necessary arrangements can be made for the money to leave immediately. Due
to the present situation of my client, I would be happy if this request can
be kept a secret. I would also like to note that there is no risk involved.
awaiting for your urgent reply . Thank Best regards, Barrister Duke
Ronald(Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam