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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (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: Kelvin Malik <kelvinmalik4@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: kelvinmalik@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:34:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: I will appreciate to hear from you urgently


Dear Friend.

My name is Kelvin Malik, I am the son of the former Liberian minister of Agriculture, my late loving father died as a result of an attack by the rebels, I was left with my Mother and my only sister Jennifer, as the war generated to a bloody battle, we fled and that was because the rebels has burnt down our house and all that my late father worked hard for.

Recently, We were visited by my father's Attorney who handed me a file and said that this was my late Father's wish that in the event of death, he should give the file to me as his Birthday gift on my 25th birthday, on opening the document, we discovered that it contains a bank deposit documents of which my Dad deposited with a Bank in our neighboring country Ghana.

I am contacting you since I have seen your name in the Ghana chamber of Commerce directory and my mind was made up to ask for your help in seeing that the Bank transfers the fund through your account so that I will be able to invest the fund in a profitable business in your country, I am willing to give to you 15 percent of the money which is of the total of US$3.6million for your assistance in seeing to a safe transfer of the money through your account as my beneficiary and also for your help in seeing to a profitable business where I will invest the money, I will also need a letter of invitation from you so that I will be able to join you for my investment after the transfer.

I will appreciate to hear from you urgently.

Sincerely,
Kelvin Malik.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam