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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:

• 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:
  • "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. )
  • "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)
  • "million 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • s_abdu1970@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Said Abdullai <s_abdu1980@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:29:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ur kind attention



Kind attention,
My name is said abdullai; i am a former rebel fighter under foday sankoh, Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone . I am making this contact to you for your helping hand, during the war in my country me and some other rebel fighter under my command always loot banks and some security company and on one of this days we came across a huge amount of money in foreign currency and diamonds .after sharing our loot my share of the money is 5million dollars and my share of the diamonds worth over  8million dollars.
 
when the war was gradually coming to an end in 2000 i have to run here to Ghana to save my own share of our loot with a security company for save keeping and then return to my country. On my way back I was arrested by the government troop and imprison without trial for 7year. i was release last year with some other prisoner when the new president grant some of us amnesty i have to start my life again and i have nothing to start with and some of my country men and woman still treat me like a murderer in my country that is why i have to come back to Ghana to get my valuable item so that i can put my life back on track. I know that i have done some stupid thing in the past which i myself regret it and i always pray that God should forgive me because i believe i am only trying to defend my right, but now i know i am wrong. this is the only valuable asset i have as at now that can help me to start a new and promising life since i have lost everything in that
selfish war that only left me with one sister on earth.
 
Furthermore, am ready to release the documents to you and the authority to perfect you on this deal as the bonifide family foreign Investor to claim the deposited fund, because there is no how i can present myself now.

This fund will be transferred for investment purpose. In a very lucrative business ventures. I have map out 30% of the total deposit after the fund is finally transfer for investment for you as gratification, i assure you that this deal is 100% risk free. i expect your urgent response stating all your necessary details in this deal as soon as you receive this massage and also include your personal information¢s for our effective communications.
Pls you can also reach me on my alternative email (s_abdu1970@yahoo.com)
 
Greetings and thanking you for your utmost secrecy.
 
Yours faithfully,
Said abdullai,
s_abdu1970@yahoo.com
 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam