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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • mrs1_hill@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Grace Hill <mrs1_hill@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 16:11:29 +0400
Subject: PLEASE HELP


From Mrs Grace Hill
WE NEED YOUR HELP
DEAR Sir/Madam,

I know this letter will come as a surprise to you, but I would like you
to give it top consideration so as to help me, and my family out from
our present economic predicament, which the entire family is facing this
time around.

I am Mrs Grace Hill the wife of Mr. Allan Hill a British citizen who
based in Zimbabwe and also a farmer in Zimbabwe. My husband, Mr. Allan
Hill who is now,under the Zimbabwean police custody is awaiting trial
for not quithing his farm as directed and instructed by the Zimbabwe
present president Mr. Robert Mogabe.

That the white farmers in the country should vacate their farm land and
go back to their country,but my husband due to what he has invested in
Zimbabwe also on his farm refused quitting, it is because of this that
the president instructed police to lock him and all his properties are
now seized by the Zimbabwean Government.
All effort made by my husband's friend Mr. JOHN Connelly, the Zimbabwean
Chairman Justice for Agriculture and my mother who is also a Zimbabwean
citizen to release my husband was to no avail.

I Grace Hill knowing fully well the case of my husband is a serious case
revealed to my son that my husband Mr. Alan Hill deposited some money
in a particular Security Company in (BAMAKO MALI) Which the name will be
given to you as soon as we got your positive respond .I have given all
the necessary documents regarding the money to my son and the money
involved is Four million, two hundred thousand United States dollars
(4.2m USD). Moreover I Mrs.Grace Hill, decided to offer you 20%.

I have sent my son to go to UAE and search for a reliable foreigner who
will help us to keep the money because of safety as instructed me by my
husband's friend John Connelly of Zimbabwe .for Your urgent reply is
needed & towards this transaction through my confidential email address
at mrs1_hill@yahoo.com
Please know that due to the nature of this transaction my son John Hill,
is now in Dubai to help for the surcessfull transfer of this money.

Thanks for your cooperation.
Mrs. Grace Hill
(on behalf of Hill's family

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam