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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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: ROY WILLIAMS <roywilliams2000247@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 14:40:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: NONE


DEAR Sir,

BUSINESS INFORMATION.

In order to execute and transfer out (US$90 Million) Ninety Million United State Dollars from African Development Bank. I have picked up trust and courage to ask you to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important business transaction believing that you will never let me down either now or in the future.

The said US$90 Million is in a dormant account belongs to Mr. Fernando Carlos, a foreigner, he was a miner at Kruger Gold company (KGCSA), a geologist by profession, and he died since 1990. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved that this company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved (US$90 MILLION) Ninety Million US Dollars. Now, I want to first transfer (US$45 MILLION) forty five Million United State Dollars from this money into a safe foreigner account abroad before the rest.

I am contacting you based on the fact that you are a foreigner because this money can only be approved for payment to a foreigner, more so it can not be approved by local bank here, as this money is in US Dollars hence the former owner of this account is a foreigner too. I know that this proposal will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves before, however I based my move on trust and God directive and we still have to meet possibly, sign some agreement before the final transfer of the fund into any of your chosen designated bank account.

All we need from you is honest and confidential in this business so that we can work as a team in order to become business partners.

Please treat with utmost confidentiality .

REGARDS,

Mr.ROY WILLIAMS


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam