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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "contact me immediately" (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.
  • p_franklin25@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "PATIENCE FRANKLIN" <p_frank@she.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2006 14:24:45 +0700
Subject: ATTENTION FOR BENEFICIAL ASSISTANCE

Attn: The Director&Ceo.
Greetings,
I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise but honestly I do not intend to surprise you. In introduction my name is Patience Franklin from Sierra Leone, I write this letter in respect of my intention to transfer and invest the sum of US$18,000,000.00 in your country which I inherited from my late husband who was a politician that died in the hands of his political opponents during our country political crisis.Because of my late husband killers that are still bent on my family to wipe away, I had to escape to a foreign country with my only son Richard as asylum seekers.However, I'm soliciting for your assistance to transfer my fund to your country and wisely invest it in any profitable business of your choice.
The fund in question is in a Financial Security Firm vault where it was deposited , and all it's Documents are still intact with me. In view of this plight, I expect you to be trust worthy and kind enough to honestly assist me, I hereby agree to compensate your sincere and candid effort in this regard with 20% of the total fund and 5% for all the expenses, which may arise during the transaction.
Whatever is your decision, please do not hesitate to contact me immediately through this email p_franklin25@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam