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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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: Helen Philips <helen_philips200819@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: helenphilips56@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:07:32 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: MISS HELEN PHILIPS


MISS HELEN PHILIPS,
ABIDJAN,
Cote D IVOIRE.

Dearest one,

I am miss Helen Philips I am contacting you because I need your assistance to help me claim my inheritance from a bank located here in ABIDJAN. My late father was a very good man, he was also very rich and successful in his business, and he helped a lot of people, especially his business associates, but they conspired to kill him just to acquire his wealth. I lost my mother when I was just two years old.


After my fathers death, I discovered a bank statement document of the sum of (USD 6,500,000.00 million Dollars) Six Million Five hundred thousand US dollars deposited in a bank here in ABIJAN the capital city of cote D IVOIRE.

I have since contacted the bank but the document states that I have to be at least 25 years old before I can claim this money. I am only 19years I cannot claim this money. I am really in need of this money as my life is in danger from the same people that killed my father. I would like to escape to a place where I can have rest of mind. Also my uncles are trying to give me out in marriage to a man twice my age without my consent. Now my life is in danger I do not trust anyone. For this I want you to stand as my guardian and appointed beneficiary and receive the money in your country. I want the money to be transferred to your account so that you will get me papers to travel to your country to continue with my studies there.

Please I desperately need to get out of this terrible situation and I count on you for your assistance.

I will be sending to you a copy of my picture so that you will know the person
You are assisting. Please contact me as soon as possible.
Thanks and May the almighty God bless you,
Yours Sincerely,
Helen Philips



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam