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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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• 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.

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:
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • ",500,000" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024063573 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "mikpeter peter" <mikpeter12@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: mikpeter9@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 15:46:22 +0100
Subject: Financial Action Task Force,(FATF)


Financial Action Task Force,(FATF)
London Office.
+44-7024063573

To: Susan Morey,
USA.

This is to inform you that we have gone through your payment file of
$4,500,000.00 and have ascertained the reality of the origin of funds after
thorough investigation. We have been in doubt over the authenticity and
originality of the funds in question which resulted to our instruction the
originating bank to stop the transfer until the investigation is completed.
Our main objective is the development and promotion of national and
international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Having completed the investigation, you will be required to make yourself
available in Canada between the 21st and 22nd of April 2008 to sign the Fund
Release Documents. You are required to come with any of your valid
identification and also photocopy of any of your paid utility bills.

As soon as you confirm this email and the exact date you will be here,we
shall let you have the appointment letter, which will serve as an invitation
to allow you entry on the appointment date.

Regards,
Mike Peter.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam