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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
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• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million american 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)
  • "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: mrs fatima kwame <mrs.fatima_kwame4u4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrs.fatimakwame@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2007 13:45:47 +0000
Subject: COLLEAGUES



DEAREST ONEI AM MRS FATIMA KWAME FROM IVORY COAST AND I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I NEED YOUR HELP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A SUM OF MONEY THAT MY LATE HUSBAND LEFT FOR ME BEFORE HE DIED.THIS MONEY IS USD 4.5MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS AND THE MONEY WAS DEPOSITED IN THE BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN. MY HUSBAND WAS A VERY RICH COCOA FARMER AND HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS COLLEAGUES AND NOW I WANT YOU TO STAND AS MY PARTNER AND APPOINTED BENEFICIARY AND RECEIVE THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY SINCE I AM ONLY WIDOW AND WITHOUT A CHILD.OUR MARRIAGE WAS ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD.RIGHT NOW I AM WRITING THIS MAIL WITH TEARS BECAUSE THE WICKED RELATIVES OF MY LATE HUSBAND HAS TOOK AWAY MY HUSBND PROPERTIES AND THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR ME IS THIS FUND HE DISGUISELY DEPOSITED IN THE BANK. PLEASE I WILL LIKE YOU TO REPLY THIS MAIL SO THAT I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION. SO THAT THIS MONEY WILL BE TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY, SO THAT YOU WILL GET ME PAPERS TO COME TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT.REMEMBER THIS TRANSACTION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL, THIS IS ONLY BETWEEN TWO OF US FOR SECURITY PURPOSE.I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPERSATION. CONSIDER THIS AND GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOUBEST REGARD,MRS FATIMA
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam