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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22508020262 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • princedonaldwilliams@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Urgent Assistance is needed" <princedonaldwilli@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: princedonaldwilliams@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 19:11:57 -0700
Subject: Urgent Assistance is needed

PRINCE DONALD WILLIAMS
TEL : +225 08 020262
EMAIL:princedonaldwilliams@yahoo.com ABIDJAN-COTE D'IVOIRE
WEST AFRICA
Urgent assistance needed from you Attn: The Managing Director Dear Sir, It is a pleasure to acquaint you with this proposal for the purpose of investment in your country. I am the son of late Chief George Williams, whom was a personal confidante to the arrested War-Lord, Mr. Charles Taylor, Ex President of Liberia, who was arrested on Saturday, 25 March 2006 after running to Exile in Nigeria in 2003. My late father left Liberia with one trunk box, which contain the total sum of USD$ 21,000,000,00 (twenty one Million United States Dollars)to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire and deposited this consignment at a private security company here in Abidjan. Unfortunately he died on the same day,25 March 2006 out of the crisis when Mr. Charles Taylor was about to be arrested in Nigeria. I am presently here in Abidjan with my Sister( MISS CYNTHIA WILLIAMS) seeking for a reliable and trustworthy individual or company to transfer this
said amount of money to his company or country for safe-keeping until when we eventually leave Abidjan to meet this individual. Based on our ignorance of the business world, we actually need your assistance hoping that you are honest and trustworthy to render your assistance. Your efforts in assisting us would not be underestimated as we are writing this mail to you with tears, we would offer you 20% of the total sum of (US$ 21,000,000)Twenty One Million U.S Dollars. Please as soon as you receive this message, you should endeavour to call me on the above telephone or email address for more details and clarification. Thanks and God bless.
Best regards. PRINCE DONALD WILLIAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam