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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:
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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)
  • "transferred into your bank account" (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 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.James Eric" <jame_eric@myway.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:37:41 +0700
Subject: Investment benefit

Dear friend,
It is nice and wonderful to contact you on email today.
This is Mr.James Eric, I am currently working with One of the Rural Banks in my country as a regional branch manager.
And I want to trust you with (US$2.8 million) available for investment benefit between you and me.As a matter of fact,
I am presently in grip of fund "Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars" readily available for you and I,
and I am seeking for your cooperation to transfer this money to your place.
I discovered this fund as part of unclaimed deposited funds in our bank by a late foreign customer (dead customer),
who deals on Gold and Precious stones here in Ghana before his death since 2001. And I couldn't find any of his relatives information nor contact,
and no body knows about this fund, since he did not endorse any third party on his information.Immediately when I discovered this abandoned fund (US$2.8m)
I placed it on Sundry Escrow Account here in our bank without any beneficiary information and no body know about this money.
Now I chose to work with you as a foreigner to transfer this money to your bank account in your country,
since the code of conduct of our bank forbids me to operate a foreign account because of my position as a bank manager.
I want this money to be transferred to your bank account in your country or any country of your choice under your control.
Sincerely, I am ready to give you 40% of the US$2.8m while 60% will be for me, as soon as this fund is transferred into your bank account in your country.
This is bank to bank transfer, therefore, I assure you there is no problem in this transaction. Moreover,
I have worked out all the modalities to ensure safe and successful transfer of this fund into your bank account which you will provide.
Please urgently for more details.
Best regards,
James Eric

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam