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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.

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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • shella_wilson@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <adz@adz.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:16:03 -0500
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE‏

Greetings!!

Kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you. I believe
you are a respected person, hence decided to contact you for this vital
business. I am Miss Shella Wilson from Ivory Coast , in Africa , I am a
young girl and I lost my parents tow years ago. I inherited an important
sum of money from my parents. Mr.Joseph Wilson my father, who was a
prominent gold and diamond dealer in this country, he died in the recent
crisis here in Cote d'Ivoire as planned by his enemies who greedily want
over take his wealth. Beside my mother died when I was still a little
child. Am the only child of my parents.

Therefore I wish to request your assistance in investing this money in
lucrative venture under your directives and guidance in your country as my
father suggested to investment on Real estate Shares or Hotel business;
before his untimely death. Please I want you to assist me for the transfer
of this sum of (USD$10.000,000.00) into your account in your country. My
late father acquired the money from his gold and diamond business here in
this country before he was killed by his enemies. The money is deposited
in a fixed account in a bank in this country. I need you to stand for me
in the bank to receive the money into your account hence; I will give you
the contact of the bank where the money is being deposited for you to
contact them on my behalf and discuss with them for this transfer since I
do not know much about bank /financial issues.

I will come over there to stay and further my studies after the money is
transferred into your
choice nominated account, while you shall invest the money into profitable
investments in your country. I will gladly give you 30% of the total sum
for your assistance for the transfer while I pray that you do not betray
me at last. Please contact me immediately for more detail so that we can
go into the transaction with the bank as i will furnish you with necessary
informationʼs and bank detail.

Awaiting your reply urgent through this email box
(shella_wilson@hotmail.fr)

Thanks,

Yours Faithful,
Shella Wilson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam