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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:
  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:
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
• 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: Chief James Lesotho <jameslesotho@katamail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 21:04:22 +0000
Subject: Re: Business Offer (Highly Confidential)


Highly Confidential


Dear Friend,

With warm heart I offer my friendship, and hope this mail meets you in good time. However strange this contact might seem to you, as we have not met personally. I humbly ask you to take due consideration of its immerse importance and benefit it will be to both of us.

I am Chief. James Lesotho a government contractor with one of the Africa State, I have been under investigation for sometime over funds misappropriation totally One Hundred and Fifty Million United State Dollars (USD150, 000,000.00Milion) contract awarded for road constructions, details of this cannot be communicated via this medium.

I have been under severe investigation in my country; I am going to limit much detail on this via this medium of communication for the safety of my overseas financial interest.

I have a secret funds deposited with a bank in Europe totally U$21,500,000.00 (Twenty One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) Only, I want this funds move to a different account under a different name. I will not be able to carry out any transaction nor will any member of my family dare know about this since it might compromise the safety of the funds.

I am going to employ your services to act as my attorney in order for you to move funds into a different account with the help of the bank personnel. Your interest will be protected with 20% of USD21.5mil.

On receiving your acknowledgment, I will forward the necessary document with power of attorney transferable to you as my attorney overseeing my financial interest abroad.

I await your much needed assistance.

Yours Faithfully,

Chief. James Lesotho

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam