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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge deposit" (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.
  
• 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.
  • missmenaoldz@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Miss.Mena Oldz" <missmena02@gmail.com>
Reply-To: missmenaoldz@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:00:59 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT HELP IS NEEDED.


Dear Sir/Madam,


I am Mena Oldz, a 21 yrs old Ghanaian lady who took to prostitution because
of my family poor financial standing. On June 26, 2005, while in the Vienna
City club in Accra , I met and had dealing with one Engr. Von Klansman of
Stuttgart , Germany . We later became serious lovers and planned to get
married, few months later. Engr. Von Klansman had come into the country to
set up a civil construction company and had deposited US$30 Million. with
Western Trust Security And Finance Company here in Accra , Ghana.


On August 13 of that same year, Engr. Klansman left the hotel, where we were
resident at the time for Kumasi to meet his German brother`s, Surprisingly,
that was the last I ever heard of him. Every attempt by the state security
to learn more about his sudden disappearance was futile.


Now, I have waited patiently for Three years, and having been convinced that
Engr. Klansman is no longer alive, I have therefore decided in close
agreement with Engr. Klansman's legal representative here in Ghana to seek a
foreign partner who is to act as the next of kin to Engr. Klansman, and
hence a beneficiary to this huge deposits. This person who must be honest
must be willing in assisting me invest this funds abroad and also help in
processing every documents to enhance my joining him in his/her country.


I also want the person to be rest assured that there will be no hitch of any
sort as he/she must be ready to come down to Accra, Ghana to get things done
immediately. All modalities have been put in place to ensure the success of
this transaction.


Upon your request, all information reflecting this transaction are to be
forwarded to you for your examination.


As I await your good response to this email address (missmenaoldz@yahoo.com
),

Yours truly,

Mena Oldz

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam