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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

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:
  • "million pounds" (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 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.
  • infotoddwilliams@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Todd Williams" <infotoddwilliams@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 15:14:31 -1200
Subject: RE: ENQUIRY( GET BACK TO ME)

NATWEST BANK PLC
LAMBETH PALACE RD
LONDON SE1 7EH

I am Mr Todd Williams a staff of Natwest Bank plc London.The
sum of
Twelve million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds has been
floating since 2000 in my
bank as all efforts to get relatives of our client who
deposited the
money yielded no result.

Mr. Andreas Schranner did not declare any next of kin or
relation in
all his official documents.I seek your assistance to have
you stand as his
next of kin for the fund release in your name as next of
kin.

All documents and proof will be forwarded to you upon your
response.
You will be offered (four million pounds)of the total sum
for your role in
this transaction,(two million pounds) will be given to
charity
organizations in your country.

Do send your response to my private e-mail address
:infotoddwilliams@gmail.com
Regards.
Todd Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam