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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:
  • "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)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: carol akandi<carol_akandi@freenet.de>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:45:33 +0200
Subject: DEAREST ONE,


DEAREST ONE,
GREETING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, IN MY SEARCH FOR A
RELIABLE AND GOD FEARING PERSON I GOT YOUR CONTACTS AFTER PRAYING AND I
DECIDED TO SEEK YOUR HELP IN CARRYING OUT MY LAST DREAMS.
I AM MISS
CAROL AKANDI, OF 19 YEARS OLD GIRL, I WAS FORMERLY A MEDICAL STUDENT OF
UNIVERSITY OF SIERRA LEONE WEST AFRICA, BUT NOW I AM WRITING YOU FROM
REPUBLIC OF COTE D\'IVOIRE WHERE I AM TAKING REFUGE AFTER THE BRUTAL WAR
THAT LEAD TO THE MURDER OF MY BELOVED PARENTS AND MY ONLY BROTHER BY THE
REBELS DURING THE RENEWED FIGHTING IN OUR COUNTRY.
BECAUSE OF THE WAR MY
LATE FATHER SOLD HIS SHIPPING COMPANY AND DEPOSITED US$5 MILLION DOLLARS
HERE IN COTE D\'IVOIRE IN A DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT WITH A BANK IN COTE D
IVOIRE WHICH I AM THE NEXT OF KIN.
PLEASE I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE
FOLLOWING WAYS.
1) TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM ONLY
19 YEARS OF AGE.
2) TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE
TRANSFERRED .
3) TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER AFTER THIS
MONEY IS TRANSFERRED TO COMPLETE MY STUDIES AND ALSO LOOK FOR A GOOD
VENTURE WHERE THIS MONEY WILL BE INVESTED.
I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 20%
OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION OF YOUR EFFORT AND 5% FOR ANY OTHER
EXPENSE YOU MIGHT MADE DURING THE TRANSFER.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS
YOU
SINCERELY
MISS CAROL AKANDI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam