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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:
  • "please endeavor to " (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • johnthomason002@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: John Thomason <johnthomason003@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:38:06 +0100
Subject: PRIVATE AND URGENT



JOHN THOMASONUnited KingdomAttention,PRIVATE AND URGENT.My name is JOHN THOMASON,, I am thecredit manager in a bank here in the United Kingdom. Iam contacting you of a business transfer, of a hugesum of money from a deceaccount. Though I know that atransaction of this magnitude will make any oneapprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you thateverything has been taken care off, and all will bewell at the end of the day. I decided to contact youdue to the urgency of this transaction.PROPOSITION;Iam the account officer of a foreigner named GeraldWelsh who died in an air crash along with his wife in31st October 1999 an Egyptian airline 990 with otherpassengers on board. you can confirm this from thewebsite below from published by CNN.WEBSITEPUBLISHEDON CNN.http://www.cnn.com/US/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.htmlSincehis death, none of his next-of-kin are alive to makeclaims for this money as his heir, because they alldied in the same accident(May his soul rest in peace).We cannot release the fund from his account unlesssomeone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to thedeceased as indicated in our banking guidelines. Uponthis discovery, I now seek your permission to have youstand as a next of kin to the deceased, as alldocumentations will be carefully worked out by me forthe funds (US$5,000,000.00) to be released in yourfavour as the beneficiary's next of kin. It mayinterest you to know that we have secured from theprobate an order of mandamus to locate any of thedeceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge receipt ofthis message in acceptance of our mutual businessendeavour by furnishing me with the followinginformation if you are interested. 1.A Beneficiaryname….In order for me to prepare the document fortransfer of the funds in your name. 2. DirectTelephone and fax numbers…….For our personal contactand mutual trust in each other. Upon your acceptance Ishall send you a copy of my international passport anddrivers license for more confidentiality and trust. Ishall be compensating you with a million dollars($1Million dollars) on final conclusion of thisproject for your assistance, while the balance $4million dollars shall be for me for investmentpurposes. If this proposal is acceptable by you,please endeavor to contact me immediately. Do not takeundue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, Iawait your urgent mail to my personal emailaddress:johnthomason002@yahoo.com
Regards,
JOHN THOMASON



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam