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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • infogepp2006@terra.com.mx (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: George Philip <infogep200671@web.com>
Reply-To: inf0gepp2006@web.com
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:41:23 +0200
Subject: RE:Partnership Investment


Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is George Philips former personal assistance to the Late
President Gnassingbe
Eyadema of Togo, a small country in the West Africa. The President
passed away recently.
During the last days of the President, he delegated me in my capacity
as his personal
assistant to assist him to secure various properties in France to the
tune of usd25M
(Twenty Five Million United States Dollars). This was not done before
the death of the President.
After the death of the President the Army brought his eldest son into
power. This brought
a lot of disagreement from the opposition. As the constitution allows
the speaker of the
Parliament to take over power in case the President should declared not
fit to rule,
either through falling health or death. Since then there have been
series of unrest in
the country. In the light of this unrest I decided to seek refuge in
the Republic of
South Africa.
The usd25M the late President release to me for the purchase of the
properties in
France was in Cash. Due to present political crisis in Togo; I decided
to move the money
with me to South Africa.
At present I am a refugee in Republic of South Africa and as result of
my refugee status
I am not allowed to own a bank account in the Country. I hereby appeal
to you to assist me in
Banking and investing this money in your country.
If you are interested in my proposal, I have decided to give you twenty
percent(20) of the fund, while
ten percent(10) has been mapped out for local and International running
cost. This proposal should be
treated as top secret in view of the amount involved, as well as my
position.
Please contact me on the above email address:infogepp2006@terra.com.mx
Yours Faithfully
George Philip.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam