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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • petemodise@pochta.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <pete_modise@centrum.cz>
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:29:31 +0200
Subject: PERMIT ME



Dear Sir/Maddam,
I am an Auditor, foreign remittance of a reputable bank here in South Africa. As the Auditor in charge of foreign remittance, I have been requested by management of my bank to provide complete details of the next of kin of one of our clients who was a United Kingdom citizen. Unfortunately, he was confirmed to have passed away in the London Bomb attacks on 7 July 2005. Just before his death, he nominating his wife as the next of kin in his account documents with our bank but later divorced her. In accordance with South African Laws, these funds will go to the government account as, foreign unclaimed bills. I do not mind this according to our bank protocol, but I see it as an opportunity with all documents and records that I and my colleagues have, we could nominate you as the business partner to the diseased and transfer the funds overseas. I am contacting you as a foreigner because these funds cannot be approved to a local Bank here in South Africa to avoid suspicion, as the funds are in United States Dollars and asking for your indulgence in this deal to transfer to your foreign account. The full amount to be transferred is $14,700,000.00 (fourteen, million seven hundred thousand dollars).
At this point I want to assure you that your true consent, full cooperation and confidentiality are all required to enable us take full advantage of this golden opportunity. Should you be interested in this business transaction, which I sincerely appreciate, and hope that you will, kindly respond back immediately for further clarifications, on my private email:petemodise@pochta.ru
Sincerely
Mr. Pete Modise
Auditor, Foreign remittance
 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam