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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • jamward_boa@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "jamward Gazeta.pl" <jamward@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:48:44 -0100
Subject: From Mr.James Edward.


FROM:MR.JAMES EDWARD.
ABIDJAN-IVORY COAST.
WEST AFRICA.


Confidential message.

Dear,

I am writing this mail to you from my residence because of how confidential
it is,this letter contains some confidential materials and should be delect
from your mail box if you are unable to help me out concerning the
proposal.

I am a director of international remittance with a bank here in Abidjan.I
and my colleagues have an amount of 28 million dollars belonging to Gen.
Robert Guei who was shot dead together with all his family last September
19th 2002 by the Government soldiers here on an accusation of plotting a
failed coup de etat.This money was 58 million dollars but some have been
used in the importation of arms by the General until he met the unexpected
death.

I have all the necessary documents involved in the deposition and the
withdrawal of the part of the money and the next of kin was his personal
security guard who also met death.Now I want you to act as the next of kin
and help us transfer this amount of money out from here.This business is
100% risk free and I will prepare all the documentation and prove the source
of the fund before the transfer.

I want you to know that this business involves I and my colleague in our
bank and must not be taken as a joke,I advice you to think very well before
responding because we need a very strong hand in this transaction. Your
percentage and other important details will be discussed once I confirm your
kind willingness in helping in the transfer. Confirm to me your private
telephone and fax numbers to enable me join you in telephone conversation
for further details. Please kindly reply to this my private email address:
jamward_boa@yahoo.fr.

I await your postive responds.

Thanks.

Mr.James Edward.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam