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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:

• 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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • melinnawilliams@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "melinnawilliams" <melinnawilliams@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2006 07:35:28 -0600
Subject: FROM MELINNA WILLIAMS


Dearest one,

My name is Melinna , I am 18 years of age, the only daughter of late Mr and Mrs Robert Williams, from Nshili District of Gikomgoro Province in Republic of Rwanda.

My father before his death was a prosperous Cocoa and Gold merchant in Kigali, Republic of Rwanda before his untimely death, after his business trip to Abidjan -Cote d'Ivoire, to negotiate on a Cocoa and Gold business he wanted to invest in Abidjan - Coted'Ivoire. My mother died when I was little ,and since then my father took me so special. Before his death on 12th January 2006 he told me that he has the sum of nine million,seven hundred thousand United State Dollars.(USD$9.700.000) deposited in a security company in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire, that he wanted to use this fund to invest his cocoa business in Ivory Coast.

After the burial of my late father i came down to Abidjan and went to the security company where the fund is deposited with all the documents regarding to the deposit of the fund that was given to me by my late father. But because of the unstable political problems here last year I instructed the security company to transfer the consignment to their affilliate office in Europe, the fund is presently in Europe now waiting for clearance. I am just 18 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do.Now I want you to help me claim and transfer the fund for investment in your country because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast.The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life.

I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions:
1. Can you honestly help me.
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is in your custody. Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.

Reply through this email address (melinnawilliams@yahoo.fr)


Thank you and God bless you.

My sincere regards,
Miss Melinna Robert,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam