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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • +22502533198 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • henry.johnson90@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "henry_2004 Gazeta.pl" <henry_2004@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: henry_7835j@voila.fr
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:38:32 +0000
Subject: FROM HENRY AND RITA JOHNSON.


*FROM HENRY AND RITA JOHNSON.**
Tele:+225-02-53-31-98
EMAIL : henry_7835j@voila.fr<http://fr.mc283.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=henry.johnson90@yahoo.fr>
*



*ABIDJAN, COTE D' IVOIRE**
WEST AFRICA.*


*MY NAME IS HENRY JOHNSON NATIONALITY SIERRA LEONE. I AM 22YEARS OLD
STUDIED MARKETING IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN THE UNIVERSITY. *

*I LOST MY FATHER YEARS BACK HE DIED DRURING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN MY
COUNTRY. MY LATE FATHER WAS ONE OF THE DIRECTORS UNDER TIJAN KABBAH
GOVERNMENT. MY SISTER RITA IS 18 YEARS. WE ARE LEAVING IN COTE D'IVOIRE
SINCE PAST SIX MONTH. *



*IT IS MY DESIRE TO WRITE FROM MY HEART HOPING THAT YOU WILL NOT BETRAY US.
MY FATHER DIVERTED SOME HUGE SOME OF MONEY WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH A
SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN ABIDJAN WHEN HE WAS ALIFE. IN FACT IN A BRIFE
INTRODUTION ALL THE INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU.
THIS MONEY TOTALING US$ 9,000,000.00( NINE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS )
NOW WE ARE SEEKING FOR A TRUSTED PERSON WHO WILL REC EIVE THIS MONEY INTO
HIS/HER BANK ACCOUNT FOR ONWARD INVESTMENT.*



*HOWEVER, WHAT WE NEEDED FROM YOU IS YOUR GOOD ASSISTANCE IN HELPING US TO
RECEIVE THE SAID SUM OF MONEY SINCE WE ARE INEXPERENCED IN THE WORLD OF
BUSINESS, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. *

*WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE THE FUND OUT FROM THIS COUNTRY TO ABROAD. I AND MY
SISTER HAVE DECIEDED TO GIVE YOU 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND
ASSISTANCE .SHOW YOUR INTEREST AND WE PROCEED ON THE NEXT STEP OF
ACTION.THIS COUNTRY IS NO LONGER CONDUSIVE FOR US TO STAY. YOU CAN CALL US
ON TEL NUMBER ABOVE. *



*OUR BEST REGARDS. *

*HENRY AND RITA JOHNSON*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam