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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:
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "mr david" <david_ebu@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 18:50:07 +0100
Subject: GREETING FROM MR DAVID EBU

From:Mr David Ebu
Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire
West Africa.

Dear
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend to establish in your country.Though I have not met with you before but I
believe, one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life.There is this amount of
Fourteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand US Dollars ($14.900.000.00)which my late Father deposited with a
security company in Abidjan Capital city of Cote d Ivoire which he wanted to use for his political reason
in our Country before he was assassinated.I am compelled to contact you for this business
relationship because i can not be able to initiate any business contract here nor even invest here due to the
government eye on me to see if there are still hidden informations relating to my Father properties or
bank deposits as they have succeeded in freezing all his accounts leaving me with nothing.
Now I have decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa
for security and political reasons.I want you to help me claim and receive the consignment which will be
sent to you through diplomatic means to your address to avoid any traces of the funds and to enable you
plan for the investment in your Country:
I will like to invest part of the money into these three investment in your Country but, if there is any
other business that is better than what I am suggesting, I will be very glad to follow your advice.
1). Real estate
2). The transport industry
3). Five star hotel
If you can be of an assistance to me i will be pleased to offer to you 20% Of the total fund while
the balance will be invested by you. I await your soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
David Ebu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam