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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "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.
  • princessarajohnson@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: princessarah_johnson@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:54:07 -0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?urgent=20assistance=20needed?=

>From Princess Sarah Johnson
C/O: Refugee camp-Abidjan
Republic Of Cote D'Ivoire

Alternate email address:princessarajohnson@excite.com

Dear 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 solve my problem.

My name is Princess Sarah Johnson,The Daughter of (Late Chief Adam Johnson)
Who lost his life in the course of the crisis here in Cote D'ivoire on the
7th of November last year on his way to there company ( Nestle Food Plc).
My father willed in cash, the sum of $8.7 Million US Dollars which he deposited
in a Fixed/Suspence account here in Abidjan Cote D'ivoire in west
Africa, with enabling conditions for the release of the fund which are as
follows:

(1) That I must be 22 years or above.
(2) That upon request for the release of the fund, there must b

I contact you therefore to confirm if you can absorb me in partnership in
your company or possibly advise me on any investment opportunity in your
country. When I reach agreement with you, the bank will release my fund
into an account that you shall nominate and I will come over to you to commence
business partnership with you and the fund.

I expect your urgent response including your addresses, your telephone and
fax number.

Thanks for expected cooperation.

My regards,

Princess Sarah Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam