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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "10% will be kept aside for expenses" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • mrsmariafung@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "THIS IS OUR CAHNCE TO MAKE IN LIFE" <megalot64@aim.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:22:00 -0700
Subject: JOIN ME IN THIS NOBLE FUNDS

FROM: Sgt. John J. Guy

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is John J. Guy I am an American soldier, I am serving in the
military of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regimient,Patrols Tal Afar, in Iraq.

I am presently in Kuwait for the mean time. I apologized using this medium
to reach you for a transaction/business of this magnitude. Please view this
link to see my picture: http://www4.army.mil/armyimages/armyimage.php?photo=
9169 and http://www4.army.mil/armyimages/armyimage.php?photo=7990.

We have in our possession the sum of US$25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million
US Dollars), which belongs to Saddam Hussein. These funds have been moved
and kept safe in a Security Company, please view this link for more details:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm Basically since we are
working for the American Government, we cannot keep these funds, but we have
transferred and moved the money through a security company based in Europe
as declared to them that the boxes contains GOLD.I have the authority of my
partners involved to propose that should you be willing to assist us in this
transaction, your share of the sum will be 30% of the US$25 million, 60% for
us and 10% will be kept aside for expenses and rest assure that this
business is 100% safe on your part provided you treat it with utmost secrecy
and confidentiality.
Therefore, if you are interested,
Please reply immediately via my private email address:
mrsmariafung@sify.com
with your Full Name, Current Mailing Address and your confidential
Telephone and Fax numbers for easy communication.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details that will
help you understand the transaction. Please observe utmost confidentiality,
and be rest assured that this business is risk free.
Respectfully submitted,

Sgt. John J. Guy
Reply only through email== mrsmariafung@sify.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam