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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.

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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • mahdiamadoujnr@ubbi.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mahdi amadou jr" <mahdiamadoujnr@gala.net>
Reply-To: mahdiamadoujnr@ubbi.com
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 20:18:06 +0000
Subject: Dearest One


*Dearest One,

Greetings, I'm mahdi amadou jr. from Sierra Leone. i am 17years am an orphan
being that i lost my mother at a very tender age and my father dr. mahdi
amadou I'm writing you from Republic of Cote d'Ivoire where I have been
taking refuge after the brutal war and Murder of my parents by the rebels
during the renewed Fighting in my country Sierra Leone. Because of the war
my late Father sold his shipping company and took me to a nearby country
Cote d'Ivoire where he deposited US$8,000,000.00 Million (Eight Million
United States Dollars) in his foreign account with one of the bank here in
Cote d'Ivoire.

Please, I have prayed before contacting you with the trust that you will be
a help to me with the current political situation in Ivory Coast now, I'm
seeking for your assistance to transfer this Money to your account for a
good investment Project in your country and also relocate to your country to
further my study. I'm willing to offer you 20% of the total sum for your
assistance.

Please for your good information this transaction Is risk free and prove in
no way connected with any illegal transaction, Please Help me to get out of
this terrible situation and as soon as you receive this mail Please kindly
call me for more details or better still send me an email to my emailbox;
mahdiamadoujnr@ubbi.com (is very important) The bank here is ready to
transfer the money to your account.

Best Regards,
mahdi amadou jr.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam