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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "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.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031837931 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: charles taylor charles taylor <charlestaylor_liberia@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 16:38:32 +0000
Subject: THANKS ALOT



DEAR FriendGOOD DAY.AS YOU READ THIS MAIL I KNOW YOU WILL BE SURPRISED TO READ FROM ME.IT IS A MATTER OF URGENCY WHICH SHALL BE OF BENEFIT TO YOU IF YOU CAN BE OF HELP.I AM CHARLES TAYLOR FORMER PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA.I KNOW YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT I AM STAND TRAIL FOR WAR CRIMES IN LIBERIA.BIT THE CRUST OF THE MATTER IS THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WAS IN NIGERIA FOR TWO YEARS WHILE IN NIGERIA I DEPOSITED THE SUM OF $65M(SIXTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS WITH A BANK THERE IN NIGERIA.AS IT STANDS NOW I WANT THE MONEY TRANSFERED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY.FAR FROM AFRICAN UNION AND ECOWAS.THIS IS THE PHONE NUMBER OF MY ATTORNEY MR GEORGE WILLS.+447031837931.IN UK.CALL HE WILL BE OF GREAT ASSISTANT TO YOU.I HAVE HOPE THAT I WILL COME OUT CLEAN BUT IF I DIE WHILE ON TRAIL OR IN DETENTION THIS IS HOW I WANT THE MONEY TO BE SHARED THOUGH I DID NOT GIVE MY ATTORNEY A NAME BUT IT SHOULD BE THIS WAY 50% SHOULD BE FOR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN THEY ARE STILL IN NIGERIA AND I DONT WANT THE MONEY TRACEDTO THEM,YOU 15%,MU ATTORNEY 20% WHILE THE REST GOES BACK TO CHARITY.I WANT TO CORRECT THE WRONGS I DID TO HUMANITY.PLEASE REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO I CAN DIRECT YOU ON WHAT TO DO AND FURNISH YOU WITH THE CONTACT,PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL OF THE BANK.AND MY ATTORNEY.THANKSCHARLES TAYLOR
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam