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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
  (+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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "god fearing " (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.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447045733500 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "David Elliss" <lincy@htt.cn>
Reply-To: "David Elliss" <d_elliss2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 9:36:31 +0800
Subject: KINDLY READ AND GET BACK TO ME


__________________________________________________
Dear Friend,
Good day to you. I may have to trouble your sense of personal achievement and reward for an opportunity properly taken advantage of.
I am Mr.David Elliss,a representative and attorney to Kenneth Lay, the former chairman & CEO, Enron Corp. Industry: Energy & Natural Resources Home, who was in detention and facing trial on charges of corruption and embezzlement of investors/public funds while in office.He was convicted of all ten counts of fraudulent allegations on Thursday the 25th of May 2006 and he was to spend the rest of his life in jail but he just died of a heart attack while awaiting his sentence in October.Refer to the following website for details. (http://edition.cnn.com/2006/BUSINESS/07/05/enron.lay/index.html).

He deposited Forty Five million united states dollars ($45,000,000.00) with me when he was in power as the chairman and I deposited the money in a Finance house/Bank under a different name according to his instructions. I have no doubt that this money was part of the embezzled funds which I had no intention of turning over to him or any authority since the money can be put to a better use. I am the only person who is aware of the existence of this money and I am based in the United Kingdom .

I am contacting you because I want you to deal with the Finance house and claim the money on my behalf since I have declared that the Funds belong to my foreign business partner. I hope to trust you as a God fearing person who will not sit on this money when you claim it but rather assist me properly to disburse the money in this ratio: 65% to me and 30% to you while 5% will be used to reimburse any incidental cost incurred during the transaction. When I receive your positive response, I will give you viable information relating to this project i.e. the Finance institution/Bank where the money was deposited and the required documentation that will enable you lay claims to the funds, which is very important. What I need is for you to indicate your interest that you will assist us by receiving the money as the legal beneficiary and to keep this matter strictly confidential between us alone.

Once I have your approval to co-operate with me, I will immediately proceed to secure the necessary legal documentation/Transfer of ownership of the money in your name and then forward an application for claims on your behalf. The Finance institution will contact you directly for Release of the funds to your nominated account when approval for the application is granted. As soon as payment is effected, and the amount mentioned above is successfully transferred into your account, I will come over to meet you in your country within 48hours for subsequent disbursement and investment of the funds.
I intend to use my own share of 65% in acquiring some commercial properties in your country and I will need your assistance to acquire and manage the properties for a fee that we shall agree upon if you so desire.I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me urgently via
E-mail:, furnish me with your name and contact details so that we can commence the preliminary procedures. Thank you and God bless.
Sincerely Yours,
Mr.David Elliss.
TELEPHONE:+44 70457 33500
FAX LINE :+44 700 600 7773

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam