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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • maryalinmm@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: maryalinmm@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:31:13 +0000
Subject:

DEAR BELOVED IN CHRIST
PLEASE SEND REPLY TO THIS
EMAIL ADDRESS /(maryalinmm@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 Abidjan
with my son Williams, before his
death he told me that he deposited
the Sum of five.five million united states
Dollars in a trunk box in the security
company here in Abidjan, were
I am residine with my Son Williams,
and the money was deposited as
family valuables, dear I will like you
to help us retreive this consingment
from the security company Since
my 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 / (maryalinmm@yahoo.fr)

Thanks and blessed
MARY ALIN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam