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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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "karimahmed1414" <karimahmed1414@terra.com.mx>
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:10:42 -0600
Subject: MR AHMED KARIM



FROM THE EMAIL ACCOUNT OF MR AHMED KARIM
DIRECTOR AUDIT AND ACCOUNT DPT.
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)
WEST AFRICA.
TEL: 00226 76 00 29 77.
FAX: 00226 50 305 303.


BUSINESS TRANSACTION.

ATTENTION:

I AM PLEASE TO INFORM YOU OF THE TRANSACTION TODAY DURING THE LAST YEAR AUDITING IN MY DEPARTMENT, WE DISCOVERED A HUGE OF MONEY BELONG TO MR JOHN KOROVO OF JORDAN, OUR DECEASED CUSTOM WHO DIED IN THE (BEIRUT-BOUND CHARTER JET) PLANE CRASH ON THE 25TH DECEMBER 2003 IN COTONOU (REPUBLIC OF BENIN). HERE IS THE WEBSITE=HTTP://WWW.CNN.COM/2003/WORLD/AFRICA/12/26/BENIN.CRASH/INDEX.HTML).

SINCE HIS UNTIMELY DEATH THE FUND HAS BEEN DORMANT IN HIS ACCOUNT WITH THIS BANK HERE WITHOUT ANY CLAIM OF THE FUND IN OUR CUSTODY EITHER FROM HIS FAMILY OR RELATION BEFORE OUR DISCOVERY TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.

ALTHOUGH, I KEEP THIS INFORMATION SECRET WITHIN MYSELF AND LOOKING FOR A PARTNER TO ENABLE THE WHOLE PLANS AND IDEA BE PROFITABLE AND SUCCESSFUL DURING THE TIME OF EXECUTION.

THE SAID AMOUNT IS $20.5M (TWENTY MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) AND THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE AS I HAVE MADE SUCCESSFUL ARRANGEMENT AS AN INSIDER OF THE BANK BEFORE CONTACTING YOU.

ON CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION, YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS GRATIFICATION, WHILE 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO TAKE CARE OF EXPENSES THAT MAY ARISE DURING THE TIME OF TRANSFER AND ALSO TELEPHONE BILLS, WHILE 60% WILL BE FOR ME.

PLEASE, BE ADVICE TO KEEP THIS A TOP SECRET AS WE ARE STILL IN SERVICE AND INTEND TO RETIRE FROM SERVICE AFTER I CONCLUDE THIS DEAL WITH YOU. I WILL BE MONITORING THE WHOLE SITUATION HERE IN THIS BANK UNTIL YOU CONFIRM THE MONEY IN YOUR ACCOUNT AND ASK ME TO COME DOWN TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR SUBSEQUENT SHARING OF THE FUND ACCORDING TO PERCENTAGES PREVIOUSLY INDICATED AND FURTHER INVESTMENT, EITHER IN YOUR COUNTRY OR ANY COUNTRY YOU
ADVICE ME TO INVEST IN.

ALL OTHER NECESSARY INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO YOU ON YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO CHAMPION THIS TRANSACTION WITH ME.

THANKS
AHMED KARIM

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam