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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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "necessary legal documents" (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. )
  • "million united states 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 next of kin 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.
  • stephen_west01@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: west mike <drwest1965@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:56:11 +0100
Subject: I represent a top company executive in London (UK).



Dear Sir/Madam,
I represent a top company executive in London (UK). My Name is stepen mike west and I am the Personal Accountant to the organization I have a very sensitive and private offer from this top executive to ask for your partnership to re-profile some offshore investment funds worth over US$200,000,000 (Two Hundred Million United States Dollars).
I am constrained however to withhold most of the details for now. But in summary the invested funds are in a bank in South Africa/dubar, we need to terminate this investment and re-profile the funds over to you for certain reasons. This is due to the major shake ups and on Going economic re-structuring policy in London(UK) presently. This is a legitimate transaction, if we are agreed on the terms you will be paid 45% for "re-profiling and subsequent management of the funds". If you are interested, provide me with your trusted personal telephone Numbers, contact address and email address and I will give you further Details. Please keep this close to your chest as much as possible; we cannot afford any political problems.. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make, all I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If you are interested please send me this following informations {1}Full Names......................... {2}Sex....................................... {3}Marital Status..................... {4}Age....................................... {5}Company If Any................. {6}Position................................ {7}Full Contact Address........ {8}Home/Cell No...................... {9}Fax No..................................
Write me back. I look forward to it. Best regards, Dr stepen mike west stephen_west01@yahoo.co.uk
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam