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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:
  • "million us 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.
  • mohamed_zahir02@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mohamed Zahir Moustafa" <Mohamed_zahir12@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mohamed_zahir02@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 01:58:48 +0000
Subject: I Hope Our Message Meet You In Good Mood.

Dearest One.

I Come across your profile and have Decided to get in touch with you
after the prayer,to see if you can help me and my sister solve our problem.
My name is Mohamed Zahir With my sister Amina,The Son and Daughter of (Late Dr Mohamed Abdel) Who lost his life in the course of the crisis in my country Cote
D'ivoire on the 7th of May last year on his way to the company ( Nestle
Food Plc). My father willed in cash, the sum of $25 Million US Dollars which he deposited in a Fixed/Suspense account, with enabling conditions for the release of the fund which are as follows:

(1) That we must be 22 years or above.
(2) That upon request for the release of the fund, there must be
evidence of investment intentions especially outside the west Africa,
We contact you therefore to confirm if you can absorb us in partnership in your company or possibly advise us on any investment opportunity in your country. When we reach agreement with you, the bank will release our fund into an account that you shall nominate and we will come over to you to commence business partnership with you and the fund.

We expect your urgent response including your addresses, your telephone
and fax number.
You can contact us through this our email: mohamed_zahir02@yahoo.com
Thanks for expected cooperation.

Our Regard,
Mohamed Zahir & Sister Amina

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam