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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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• 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 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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. LARRY REED" <ericben8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: subsea_oilgascompany@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:07:38 -0700
Subject: Hello


*Hello*

*I'm MR. LARRY REED, a representative of SUBSEA OIL AND GAS COMPANY. I have
a sensitive and private brief from the Senior Executives of this top company
in need of your partnership to re-profile funds amounting to US$45M ( Forty
- Five Million United States Dollars). I will let you have the details, but
in summary, the fund would be paid to you through a Finance Company where it
is presently deposited as soon as the filing and documentation process is
concluded in your name.*

*This is a legitimate transaction without government interference and After
successful conclusion of this transaction, we shall share the money
50-50(50% for you and 50%for me). I await your good response today. Thanks
and remain blessed. I require you to maintain the confidentiality of this
transaction because it is important due to the fact that I am still in
active services to the SUBSEA OIL AND GAS COMPANY.Your earliest response to
this matter is very important.*

*Please I need the following:*

*1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. HOME ADDRESS / COMPANY'S NAME AND ADDRESS.
4. BANK ACCOUNT (WHERE YOU WILL WANT THE MONEY TO
BE TRANSFERED INTO)
5. YOUR AGE AND SEX.*

*Yours truly,
MR. LARRY REED.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam