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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "jamaal church" <jamaal05church@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jamaalchurch@sify.com
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:19:55 +0200
Subject: Message From Jamaal


Good Day,

Its my pleasure to contact you over this transaction and I hope for your
assistance on this matter.


I discovered a dormant account in my office as a group director with a bank
here in London; presently the account is in an escrow account It will be of
my
interest to transfer this money worth half a Million Pounds in an account
offshore. If you can assist me in getting this money transferred out of
London
then invest with it and also establish partnership.


Contact me if you think you can handle such amount and kindly remember that
this is very confidential.


I wait to hear from you.


Regards


Jamaal Church


11/08/08.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam