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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:

• 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:
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • mariawilliams19@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mariawilliams19@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:47:44 +0000
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?HOW=20ARE=20YOU=20TODAY=3F?=

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

FROM MARIA WILLIAMS

THIS LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS
CORESPONDENCE.THIS IS AS A RESULT OF THE HELPLESS SITUATION I FOUND MYSELF
INTO. MY NAME IS MARY WILLIAM, I AM 19 YEARS OLD GIRL, I GOT YOUR CONTACT
DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, CAPABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN
ASSIST ME IN THIS DARKEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE.

I LOST MY FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS, IN A CAR CRASH WHEN OUR DRIVER
WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE ACROSS THE RAILWAY WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE TRAIN WAS
ALREADY AT THAT POINT WITH SPEED. I AM ALIVE WRITING YOU BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE
TO BE AT HOME WITH MY BROTHER (FRANCIS) AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I AM
WRITING YOU NOW FROM A GUEST HOUSE WHERE WE ARE NOW.

BEFORE MY FATHER'S SUDDEN DEATH, HE KEPT THE SUM OF US$11,000,000.00 (ELEVEN
MILLION US DOLLARS) IN CASH WITH A PRIVATE SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY.
NOW THAT HE IS LATE AND I AM THE ONLY ONE LEFT BEHIND. I AM WRITING YOU
TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY, INVEST IT IN A PROFITABLE
BUSINESS AND RELOCATE ME TO JOIN YOU IMMEDIATELY.

AS A RESULT OF INSECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY HERE, WE DO NOT WANT TO STAY
HERE ANY LONGER.

I GIVE ALMIGHTY GOD THE GLORY AND THANKS THAT MY FATHER DID NOT DIE IMMEDIATELY
BUT HE DIED AFTER THREE DAYS OF THE EXPLOSION.HE GAVE ME ALL THIS INFORMATION
WHILE HE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL.I WILL BE VERY GLAD IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME CONTACT
THIS PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY WHERE MY FATHER DEPOSITED THIS MONEY,I AM
READY TO PASS TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATIONS THAT MY FATHER GAVE TO ME ON HOW
TO GET THIS MONEY OUT FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY IMMEDAITELY ONLY IF YOU
WILL PROMISE ME THAT I WILL NOT BE BETRAYED AT THE END, I AM PREPARED TO
GIVE YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.

I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.

PLEASE REPLY ME WITH THIS E-MAIL ( mariawilliams19@yahoo.com )

REGARDS,

MARIA WILLIAMS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam