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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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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 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)
  • ",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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "American Soldier" <scss_info@wanadoo.es> (may be fake)
Reply-To: sgtrudy11@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:28:45 +0200
Subject: $12,000,000.00 (Twelve million US dollars

Dear Friend,

My name is Sgt. Rudy, an American soldier; I
was serving in the military of the 3rd Infantry
Division in Iraq. I am in Spain at the moment, I
and my partner moved one of the boxes containing funds
which we believe is belonging to Saddam Hussein in
March 2003, the total fund in this box is about
$12,000,000.00 (Twelve million US dollars), this fund
had been moved via a safe means to a secured security company,
Click on this link:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm>
Basically since we are working for the American
government we cannot keep these funds, since we are 3
that is involved. This means that you will take 30
percent, I will take 30 percent, and my partner will
take 30 percent. 10 percent will be kept aside for
any unforeseen expenses.
This business is confidential, and we plead that it
should not be discussed with anyone. There is no risk
whatsoever involved as we deposited the fund in the
Security company without declaring it's contents for
this period of time to make sure that the fund will be
safe for transfer and investment. If you are
interested I will send you the full details, my job is
to find a good partner that we can trust and will
assist us. Kindly send me an e-mail signifying your
interest including your telephone/fax numbers for
quick communication and also your contact details. I
assure you that this transaction is risk free and its
success is 100% guaranteed Please help us to help you.
Please reply me via this email for security reasons:
Yours-in-service,

Sgt. Rudy.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam