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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "huge amount of money" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: <earceii1@binghamton.edu>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:53:18 -0500 (EST)
Subject: *****SPAM***** URGENT INVESTMENT PLACEMENT NEEDED


Spam detection software, running on the system "spam1.pem.inap.sea.dotster.net", has
identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message
has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label
similar future email. If you have any questions, see
the administrator of that system for details.

Content preview: DEAR FRIEND, I AM WRITING YOU IN RESPECT OF MY PLANS TO INQUIRE
ON MY INTENTIONS TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY ,IT IS WITH HEARTFELT HOPE THAT
I WRITE SEEK YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN MY DESIRE TO INVEST INTO
ESTATE PROPERTIES IN YOUR COUNTRY. BRIEFLY,I AM A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT BASED
IN BURUKIRI NIGER-DELTA. I HAVE A CLIENT (A WIDOW) SHE HAS USDM$25, 000,000
WITH THE BANK OF AFRICA AT FIXED DEPOSIT WHICH WAS KEPT BY THE LATE HUSBAND
WHO WAS DUE FOR RETIREMENT BEFORE HIS DEATH AFTER PUTTING MANY YEARS IN CIVIL
SERVICE AS SECRETARY MINISTERIAL CONTRACT EVALUATION AND IMPLEMENTATION ,IN
THE PRESIDENCY,AND DURING THIS PAST YEARS IN THE OFFICE HE WAS ABLE TO SECURE
HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM OVER-INVOICED GOVERNMENT CONTRACT BILLS(FROM AFRICA
OIL COMPANIES) ,THROUGH THE ADVANTAGE OF MY POSITION IN THE OFFICE. [...]


Content analysis details: (13.1 points, 7.0 required)

pts rule name description
---- ---------------------- --------------------------------------------------
0.1 RDNS_NONE Delivered to trusted network by a host with no rDNS
1.8 SUBJ_ALL_CAPS Subject is all capitals
1.6 MISSING_HEADERS Missing To: header
2.7 DEAR_FRIEND BODY: Dear Friend? That's not very dear!
2.0 ADVANCE_FEE_2 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
1.9 UPPERCASE_75_100 message body is 75-100% uppercase
1.4 ADVANCE_FEE_3 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
1.5 ADVANCE_FEE_4 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam