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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
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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)
  • "10% will be kept aside for expenses" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Anderson=20Smith?= <anderson_smith000@yahoo.com.pe>
Reply-To: anderson_smith66@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:30:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: BUSINESS FROM IRAQ


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:anderson_smith000@yahoo.com.pe



- BUSINESS FROM IRAQ Dear Friend, Good day to you. I respectfully implore you to treat this email with utmost confidentiality and if you are unable to assist in any way, please delete this message immediately and keep confidential. Thank you. My name is Anderson Smith I am an American soldier, serving in the military with the 3rd Armored Division in Iraq. Sometime ago, I and my superior moved funds belonging to Saddam Hussein's government, in total of $25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five million US dollars) this is for real and the money is being kept safe in a Courier Service delivery company in Europe. You can click on the link below to read about the events that took place here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm, Basically since we are working for the government and cannot keep this much funds, we have decided to look for someone to help us keep this funds, this is why I have contacted you, so you can keep it for us in your safe account or better still in an offshore account. We will divide the total funds in three ways, since we are three involved in this. You will have 20%, 30% will be for me, and my superior will have 40%. 10% will be kept aside for expenses.Do remember that this business is confidential and should not be discussed with anyone.we have made arrangements with the Courier Service company in europe that will move the funds as a Family Treasures or company belongings, The most important thing is;Can We Trust you ? Once the funds get to you, simply take out 20% as your share ,10 for any expences and keep the remaining 70% for us.There is no risk involved whatsoever. If you are interested i will send you the full details on how the funds will be send to you as Family Treasures or company belongings consignment box to your destination through the Courier Service delivery company to your address to avoid any traces of the funds, my job is to find a good partner whom we can trust and will assist us in this transaction. Again Can we trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your confidential telephone/fax numbers Respectfully submitted Sgt.Anderson Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam