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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Galazy Ben Mark" <benmark1@telegraf.by>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:10:16 -0700
Subject: BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT ONLY.


BELOVED,

MY NAME IS MR.BEN MARK, FROM SUDAN; ALTHOUGH THIS PROPOSAL MIGHT COME TO YOU
AS A SURPRISE I AM SENDING THIS MAIL TO YOU IN A GOOD FAITH BY THE GRACE OF
GOD TO BUILD AN UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN YOU.

MY FATHER DR. THOMSON MARK (OF HIS BLESSED MEMORY) WAS THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT
TO THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE IN THE PAST POLITICAL REGIME IN SUDAN.

DURING HIS VIBRANT DAYS OF SERVICES, HE DEPOSITED; AMOUNT WHAT OF SEVEN
MILLION DOLLARS ($7. 000.000 ) IN A SECURITY COMPANY AS A FAMILY ITEMS FOR
SECURITY REASONS, HERE IN ACCRA GHANA THE NEAREST COUNTRY WEST AFRICAN
BECAUSE AS A CIVIL SERVANT HE CANNOT KEEP THIS FUNDS IN HIS PRIVATE ACCOUNT
IN OUR COUNTRY.

I AM THEREFORE SOLICITING FOR A HELP. I WANT YOU TO HELP ME RECEIVE THE
FUNDS OVERSEA FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES. MY LATE FATHER SIGNED A CONTRACT BOND
WHICH STATED THAT HE WILL CLAIM THESE BOXES WITH HIS FOREIGN PARTNER ABROAD
BUT UNFORTUNATELY; WE LOST HIS PARTNER IN LONDON AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS, MAY
HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.
THAT IS THE MORE REASON WHY I NEED YOUR HELP BECAUSE OUR PROPOSED PARTNER IS
DEAD AND THE COMPANY HAS GIVEN US THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO WILL
STAND AND RECEIVE THE BOXES, ALL THE DEPOSIT DOCUMENTS WHICH MY LATE FATHER
USED TO DEPOSIT THE BOXE IN THE SECURITY COMPANY IS WITH US HERE IN GHANA..
I PROMISED TO OFFER YOU 35% FOR YOUR HELP AND ANY EXPENSES INURED. (BOTH AS
MISCELLANEOUS AND ACCRUED EXPENSES).

I PRAY THAT THE GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY THROUGH HIS INFINITE MERCY WILL CONTINUE
TO BLESS YOU MORE ABUNDANTLY. PLEASE DO REPLY ME IF YOU ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL,
I WILL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST.

BEST REGARDS.
FROM: MR.BEN MARK.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam