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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "very 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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "major.mark donovan" <major.mark_donovan2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <major.mark_donovan@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:55:51 +0000
Subject: PRIVATE AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL !!!!


PRIVATE AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL !!!! From the Desk of: Major. Mark DonovanThird (3rd) infantry Division British Military , Iraq Division. Hello Sir/Ma, My name is Major. Mark Donovan, I’m a British soldier, serving in the military with the Third (3rd) infantry Division in Iraq (U.S Coalition Force). My colleagues and i after going on a rampage on Saddam Hussein palace in Baghdad discovered a substantial amount of money. You may need to check out the following BBC website to confirm more of our discovery which was made known to the government, but this particular one is a top secret: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm While on a rampage mission to Saddam Hussein Palace , we discovered secretly the sum of US$132,000,000 (One Hundred and Thirty Two Million United States Dollars) in cash money; which was secretly moved out to a secure security company via diplomatic means. We therefore write to seek your assistance to proceed and secure these funds under your custody until we are through with our service assignment in Iraq . We cannot disburse and keep more than US$10,000 in our account while in active service. There is no risk involved whatsoever. If you are interested I will send you the full details, my job is to find a good partner that we can trust on this project and I believe you won’t let us down. To ensure confidentiality, when you receive this letter, kindly reply me via e-mail signifying your interest including the following informations; 1) Your Tel and Fax number for verbal and administrative communication2) Your contact address for administrative application of the funds claim with the security company.3) Your identity for us to identify you Respectfully SubmittedMajor. Mark Donovan.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam