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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:
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • alinmarym22@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mary alin" <alinmary@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: alinmarym22@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 18:11:37 +0100
Subject:

DEAR BELOVED IN CHRIST
PLEASE SEND REPLY TO THIS
EMAIL ADDRESS
/(alinmarym22@yahoo.fr)

I guess the receiving of this
mail will not
be a surprise to you.
iam mrs mary alin
from sierra lone the
wife of Late Dr Kevin
alin a registered gold
and diamond minners.But
was assasinated during the
charles taylor crises in
the country i managed to
escape for my life to
Abidjanwith my son
Williams, before his
death he told me that
he deposited the Sum
of five million united states
Dollars in a trunk box in
the securitycompany here
in Abidjan, were
I am residine with
my Son Williams,
and the money was
deposited as family
valuables, dear I
will like youto help
us retreive this consingment
from the security company
Sincemy late husband
deposited as belong
to his foreign partner ,
he done this for
security reasons. For
any investments we have
agree to offer you 25% of
the total money 5% for
any expenses that may
arise please as soon
as you receive this
proposal. please try
and get me back immidately.
PLEASE SEND REPLY TO THIS
EMAIL ADDRESS /
(alinmarym22@yahoo.fr)

Thanks and blessed
MARY ALIN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam