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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "top secret" (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 next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • aanani03@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "Aboumane Anani" <aboumane1@mailbox.hu>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 11:08:38 +0000
Subject: WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE


Dear Friend

I know that this message will come to you as a surprise.I am the Auditing
and Accounting section manager in AFRICAN DEVELOPMENTBANK (A.D.B)
Ouagadougou Burkina faso. I Hoped that you will not exposeor betray this
trust and confident that i am about to repose on you forthe mutual benefit
of our both families.

I need your urgentassistance in transferring the sum of ($15.2)million to
your accountwithin 10 or 14 banking days. This money has been dormant for
years inour Bank without claim.I want the bank to release the money to you
asthe nearest person to our deceased customer.

I don't want the moneyto go into our Bank treasurer as an abandoned fund.
So this is thereason why i contacted you so that the bank can release the
money to youas the next of kin to the deceased customer. Please I would like
you tokeep this proposal as a top secret and delete it if you are
notinterested.

Upon receipt of your reply,i will give you full detailson how the business
will be executed and also note that you will have40% of the above mentioned
sum if you agree to handle this business.and(5%) will be preserved for
helping the helpless people, like charityorganization and motherless babies.
I am expecting your urgentresponse,as soon as you receive my message. Reply
to ( aanani03@yahoo.fr )

Best Regard.
Mr.Anani Aboumane.
WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam