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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: james peters <mrjpeters53@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrjamespeters@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:13:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PROJECT INVESTMENT


DEAR FRIEND

I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE AS I CONTACT YOU IN SUCH A SURPRISING MANNER,BUT I RESPECTFULLY INSIST YOU READ THIS EMAIL CAREFULLY AS I AM OPTIMISTIC IT WILL OPEN DOORS FOR UNIMAGINABLE FINANCIAL REWARD FOR BOTH OF US.I BEG OF YOU TO TREAT THIS INFORMATION WITH UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY. PERMIT ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF,I AM MR JAMES PETERS FROM REPUBLIC OF TOGO THE SON OF LATE DR ADEBAYOR PETERS .

I CONTACTED YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO INVEST ON A GOOD BUSINESS IN YOUR COUNTRY.I WILL GIVE YOU 10% OF THE TOTAL FUND OR YOU PARTNERSHIP WITH ME ON THAT BASIS.I HAVE THE SUM OF $35.5M READY FOR AN INVESTMENT.THE FUND WAS DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN REPUBLIC OF TOGO, MY MOST CONCERN IS TO GET A FOREIGN BUSINESS PARTNER WHO WILL COME DOWN HERE TO TOGO TO SIGN PAPERS FOR ME AS MY LATE FATHERS BUSINESS PARTNER.

YOU DO NOT REQUIRE TO COME WITH ANY MONEY OR ANY UPFRONT PAYMENT, JUST GET YOUR FLIGHT TICKET YOU WILL MEET WITH ME AND WE WILL PROCEED TO THE SECURITY COMPANY TO SIGN ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AS IT WAS STATED ACCORDING TO THE LAW HERE THAT I NEED A FOREIGNER TO BE ABLE TO GET THE CONSIGNMENT RELEASED FOR ME. AS IT WAS DEPOSITED BY MY LATE FATHER.

PLEASE IF YOU WISH TO PARTNER WITH ME WRITE ME EMAIL I WILL COMMUNICATE YOU ON PHONE AND YOU WILL ARRANGE DATE AND FLY DOWN, YOU CAN TAKE AIR FRANCE FROM THERE TO TOGO YOU WILL HAVE A FREE VISA DOWN TO TOGO, I WILL BE WAITING TO RECEIVE YOU.THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION AS I HOPEFULLY ANTICIPATE YOUR RESPONSE.

BEST REGARDS
MR JAMES PETERS


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam