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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.

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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 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)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: keneth bello <keneth_bello1@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:36:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP


GREETINGS,=20
=A0
DEAR I THANK GOD IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR GRANTING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SEN=
D THIS MAIL TO YOU. AND I KNOW MY LETTER WILL COME TO YOU AS A VERY BIG SUR=
PRISE, PLEASE BEAR IT WITH ME AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE BEST O=
PPORTUNITY I HAVE IN MY PRESENT SITUATION. I GOT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS THROUGH=
THE INTERNET, WHEN I WAS SEARCHING FOR A RELIABLE GOD FEARING PERSON, WHO =
WILL NOT BETRAY ME IN THE COLLECTION OF FUNDS BELONG TO ME.
=A0
MY NAME IS=A0 KENETH=A0 BELLO=A0FROM COTE D'LVOIRE, PRESENTLY RESIDING IN D=
AKAR-SENEGAL WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER BECAUSE OF CRISES IN MY COUNTRY. MY LAT=
E FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT, BEFORE HE WAS ASSASSINATED BY T=
HE REBEL DURING THE CRISES IN MY COUNTRY, AND HE DEPOSITED A HUGE AMOUNT OF=
MONEY (US$15.5 MILLION DOLLARS) IN A FINANCE HOUSE FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT B=
EFORE ASSASSINATED. NOW I WANT TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY. THEREF=
ORE I WANT YOU TO CONTACT THE FINANCE HOUSE ON MY BEHALF SO THAT THE WILL T=
RANSFER THIS FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR INVESTMENT.=20
=A0
(1)YOU WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME AND MY YOUNGER SISTER TO COME OVER TO Y=
OUR COUNTRY AND CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION.=20
(2) I WILL GIVE YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL MONEY FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, THEN AFTER.=
I WILL SET ASIDE 5% FOR ANY EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED DURING THE CLO=
SING OF THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTION. THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
=A0
BEST REGARDS,
KENETH BELLO=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam