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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:
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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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "former president of liberia" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Martins Williams" <martins@clerk.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 08:17:34 +0100
Subject: ATT:

Dear Sir,

l am Mr. Martins Williams, the financial agent of the
former President of Liberia Mr.Charles Taylor, Who is
now facing War tribunal in Hague at Netherlands. Before
he was impeached as the President of the Federal Republic
of Liberia, he gave me some huge amount of money to deposit
in various financial institutions in various countries,
most of which he does not know .

l have disclosed to his wife, Children and Relatives those
l feel l should,except a US$60 million which l deposited
with Africa lndex Multinational, Cape Town in South Africa
and a security/finance company in Madrid Spain and Indonesia.
l want you to act as the bonafide owner of the fund in any
of this three Countries, l will assist you in the provision
of necessary informations that may be required for the
release of the fund.

Pls confirm your interest to enable me furnish you with all
the detailson how you can claim the fund.

After the conclusion of this transaction, 30% of the
US$60 million belongs to you while 70% belongs to me
and my collegues.

Pls send me your direct telephone number for easy
communication. l await your urgent response.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Martins Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam