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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:

• 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:
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "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.
  • ming101yang02@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ming yang" <mails44mingyang101@klikni.cz>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 12:24:49 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY [CODE NO: AM-002].


Good Day,

I sincerely hope that this letter will not come to you as a surprise or an
embarrassment since we neither knew each other before nor had any neither
previous correspondence nor contact. Let me start by introducing myself. I
am Mr. Ming Yang, Director of Operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd, Sai Wan
Ho Branch, Hong Kong. I have an obscured business suggestion for you.

I am here-by seeking your service in giving a clear research and feasibility
studies on areas I could invest on. Your services will be paid for, and you
will be a partner, if your recommendation is accepted.As a bank employee, I
can not operate any personal investment till I am retired and with the
Anti-corruption Bill passed in Hong Kong; it is risky for a fixed income
earner to own any huge amount of money in Hong Kong or any foreign country.
It is then advisable to invest in any foreign land secretly and patiently
wait retirement.You are to handle everything personally and with utmost
confidentiality, if my proposal is acceptable as I may not be able to travel
down, since I must obtain an official clearance before leaving this
territory.

Note importantly that, this is a confidential proposal and must be treated
as such because the banking sector has commenced probing of all senior
banking officials that have served in the past and presently in service.For
security purpose, due to telecom interception in Hong Kong, I shall not
accept or acknowledge any phone call. Only fax messages/emails would be
treated in relation to this proposal but not without this code; [CODE NO:
AM-002].

Should you be further interested, I would prefer you to reach me on the
email address below:(ming101yang02@yahoo.com.hk) and finally after that I
shall provide you with more details of this operation.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Ming yang

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam