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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge amount of money" (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.
  • james9aa@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "JAMES KONAN" <james4s2@walla.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: james4s2@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 01:41:53 +0000
Subject: Re: Greetings From James,

GREETINGS,

DEAR I THANK GOD IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR GRANTING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SEND THIS MAIL TO YOU. AND I KNOW MY LETTER WILL COME TO YOU AS A VERY BIG SURPRISE, PLEASE BEAR IT WITH ME AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY I HAVE IN MY PRESENT SITUATION. I GOT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS THROUGH THE INTERNET, WHEN I WAS SEARCHING FOR A RELIABLE GOD FEARING PERSON, WHO WILL NOT BETRAY ME IN THE COLLECTION OF FUNDS BELONG TO ME.

MY NAME IS JAMES KONAN, FROM COTE D'LVOIRE, PRESENTLY RESIDING IN DAKAR-SENEGAL WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER. MY LATE FATHER MR. KOULIBALY KONAN, HAVE A BIG CACAO FARM IN MY COUNTRY BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH DURING THE CRISES IN MY COUNTRY HE WAS KILLED BY THE REBEL WHEN HE WENT TO INSPECT ONE OF HIS CACAO FARM , AND HE
DEPOSITED A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY (US$12.5 MILLION DOLLARS) IN A FINANCE HOUSE FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH. I'M SOLICITING FOR YOUR HAND IN PARTNERSHIP AS TO COME UP SO THAT WE CAN BOTH THINK OF A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT TO START WITH THIS FUNDS IN YOUR COUNTRY. THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO CONTACT THE FINANCE HOUSE ON MY BEHALF SO THAT THE WILL TRANSFER THIS FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR INVESTMENT.

(1)YOU WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME AND MY YOUNGER SISTER TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY AND CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION.
(2) YOU WILL INVEST THIS MONEY FOR US.THE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THIS DEPOSITING OF FUNDS ARE INTACT WITH ME, I WILL SEND IT TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU INDICATE YOUR INTEREST IN ASSISTANCE US AND I WILL GIVE YOU 10% OF THE TOTAL MONEY ,THEN AFTER. I WILL SET ASIDE 5% FOR ANY EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.YOUR RESPONSE IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED GOD BLESS YOU.

YOURS SINCERELY,
JAMES KONAN
james9aa@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam