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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.

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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • ",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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Wilson John" <johnwilson1@livedoor.com>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 13:27:23 +0100
Subject: I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR URGENT RESPOND


From: Mr. John Wilson
Accra, Ghana

Hello,
I got your contact during my search for a reliable, honest and a trust worth
person to entrust this huge transfer project with. My name is Mr. John
Wilson, Branch manager of a financial institution here in Ghana. I am a
Ghanaian married with two kids. I am writing to solicit your assistance in
the transfer of $ 11,500,000 Million United States dollars only.

This fund is the excess of what my branch in which am the manager made as
profit during the 2007 financial year. I have already submitted annual
report for that year to my head office here in Accra as I have watched with
keen interest as they will never know of this excess gain. I have sincerely
placed this amount of $ 11,500,000 Million United States dollars only to an
Escrow Coded account without a beneficiary (anonymous) to avoid trace.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus
I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your
bank account on my behalf. I intend to part 30% of this fund to you while
70% shall be for me. I do need to stress that there are practically no risk
involved in this. It's going to be a bank-to-bank transfer.

All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund so
that the fund can be transferred to your account. If you accept this offer,
I will appreciate your timely response urgently.

With Regards,
Mr. John Wilson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam