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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• 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.
  • agnes_prosper@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: agnes_pro@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:44:42 +0000
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?=20Your=20assistance=20is=20speedly=20needed=20please=2E?=

Dear Friend,


I apologized using this medium to reach you for a business of this magnitude,but
this's due to confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium.I
am Mrs.Agnes Prosper wife of Mr Prosper Sia Popo,the chief security officer
BCEAO bank bouake côte d' ivoire,abidjan in west africa.

My husband was cought on 16th september 2002,by the police at the burkina
faso international airport with 3.2 Million euros on his way to germany
and handled him over to côte d'ivoire government for judgement.He was sentenced
to jail for embezzlement of money from the above mentioned bank during the
civil war in my country 5years ago since then,we've been living confind
with government prey eyes on every step the entire
family made.

However,I was at the prison yard last week with our children to see his
health,where he called me aside and disclosed a top secret to me that he
lodged a trunk box contains 5.6million euros as a family treasure in a private
trustee company in Ghana,and instructed the company to transffered the box
to their agent in china for security reasons before he proceed to burkina
faso.To my greatest suprice,i called the company two days ago to verified
everything true.

He further warned me seriously to seek for a foreign partner:-

1)To assist me in retriving the money from the company agent.
2)To serve as the guardian of the money.
3)And quickly arrange for my travelling papers to meet him/her and invest
the money wisely under your kind supervision for security reason.

It's base on this special arrangement you've to make hush-hush i am accosting
your honest and sincere assistance.Upon your response indicating your willingness,we
shall endorse a concrete agreement before i will review the relevant documents
concerning the lodged to you for change of ownership and sweatless claim.For
your information,this transaction would be concluded within seven(7)working
days said by the security
company Director.

I sincerely ask that you shouldn't discuss this transaction with any thirdparty
to avoid government attention and completely render us lifeless after all
these trends,as the money is all hope of our future living as soon as government
release my husband.However,pls respond through my alternative
email(agnes_prosper@yahoo.co.uk)to help me know my fate.

Best regards,
Mrs Agnes.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam