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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:
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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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael D" <michael.d14@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: mduk968@gazeta.pl
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:31:45 +0000
Subject: Re: Very Urgent


Dear Sir,

I had earlier sent you this email 3 days ago.

I am writing you in respect of an opportunity at the bank where l work in
London; l want us to take advantage of this opportunity. I am Michael by
name.

There is this 10,500,000.00 USD (Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars) that was deposited in one of our safe deposit boxes eight
years ago. The money belongs to a dead African President, and the deposit
has no next of kin. I would like to transfer this money to you for both of
us to share; I cannot directly transfer this money to myself.

Please note that this is not one of those SCAM letter originating from
scammers. This transaction does not require that you spend a cent of your
money. What l mean is that, you will not have to pay anything in the course
of this transaction. All l require of you, is your sincerity and guarantee
that you will make my share of the money available to me at the end of the
transaction.

If you are interested, l will disclose to you a perfect plan that will
enable me legally transfer the said money to you as a contract payment
without any problem. When the money is successfully transferred to you, you
shall get 30% of the money as your share, 70% goes to me.

If you are interested, please respond in earliest.

My regards,

M D

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam