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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.

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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:
  • "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "James Kassi" <james_kassi1@klikni.cz>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 18:17:47 +0000
Subject: From James Kassi


From James Kassi
High school student,
Ivory Coast West Africa.

Dear,

I know that my message will come to you as a surprise since I don¢t know you
in person or met with you before, but I am of the believe that you would be
obliged to come to my assistance after hearing about my situation. I was,
until recently, a high school student here in Abidjan, Ivory Coast West
Africa.

I am the only son of late Mr George Kassi. My father was a very wealthy
cocoa merchant based in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast. He was
poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outing to
discuss on a business last year. When my mother died on the October 1992, my
father took me so special because I am motherless.
Before the death of my father last year, in a private hospital here in
Abidjan. He secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has a sum
of US$ 8,500,000 left in account in a bank here in Abidjan, that he used my
name as the next of kin in deposit of the fund. He also explained to me that
it is because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business
associates.

1)I am honourably seeking your assistance to provide a bank account where
this money will be transferred to.

2)You will serve as the guardian of this funds since I am a boy of 20 years.

3)You will make arrangement for me to come over to your country after the
money has been transferred to you. I have plans to do investment in your
country, like real estate and industrial production.

This is my reason for writing to you. Please if you are willing to assist me
please indicate your interest. I am willing to offer you 15% of the total
sum as compensation for your effort/input after this successful transfer of
this fund to your nominated account overseas.

Finally if you have any question as regards this transaction contact me so
that I will send you documents of this fund. Note that the confidentiality
of this transaction would be highly appreciated in replying soonest.


Thanks and best regards.
James Kassi.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam