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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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22509456714 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • ibrahim_yassa20@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Ibrahim Ya" <iby54@rockclimbing.com>
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:46:05 -0800
Subject: From Mr.Ibrahim Yassa.


From Mr.Ibrahim Yassa.
Tel: +225-0945-6714.
E-mail: ibrahim_yassa20@hotmail.com

Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Ibrahim Yassa, Working in department of Fund Released Order/BICICI Cote
D'Ivoire. I know the letter might come to you as surprise,but take it like your
own deal. Engr.John Perry, executed contract through Federal Ministry of Works &
Housing (FMWH) here, the contract worth of (US$10.5M) but on the process of
transferring the money to him, he died with his family in earthquake disaster
that occurred recently in Iran,26 December 2003(
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3350195.stm).

Meanwhile, his money has signed to pay in my office before I will give order to
the final endorsement of his money. Nobody knows what is going on except my
colleague and I. The late contractor's information will be made available to you
base on your co-operation. You will act like the beneficiary of this fund,
since we have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives. I now seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you would
understand facts with me, so that the remaining proceeds of this account valued
at US$10.5M dollars can be processed and paid to you and then both parties can
share the money according to our agreed sharing ratio. I will send to you the
whole relevant information that is required of you to know in this transaction
immediately you accept to co-operate with me.
Send to me your:
1. Your full name and address
2,Your private phone and fax.
3, Name of your company or any company's name you want us to present as the
beneficiary's company name. I have decided to go into negotiation with you base
on sharing ratio of this money, but both of us need to bear in mind that 5% of
this money will go for Homeless in your country, while 5 % will be for any
expenses you and I might incur in the processing of the contract funds into
your name/favour.

This has 100% no risk. I am going to my retirement very soon, so need this money
to take care of my family in future. Waiting your urgent reply.

Yours truly,
Mr.Ibrahim Yassa.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam