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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • ",500,000" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Song Lile <assem@sharif.ir> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mr.songlile08@ymail.com
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:29:40 +0000
Subject:


Spam detection software, running on the system "homa.sharif.ir", has
identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message
has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label
similar future email. If you have any questions, see
the administrator of that system for details.

Content preview: Compliment of the day, Although you might be apprehensive
about my email as we have not met before,My name is Mr Song Lile I work with
the Hang Seng Bank. There is the sum of $19,500,000.00 in my bank"Hang Seng
Bank", Hong kong. But there were no beneficiaries stated concerning these
funds which means none would ever come forward to claim it. That is why I
ask that we work together so as to have the sum transfered out of my bank
into your account. [...]

Content analysis details: (6.2 points, 5.0 required)

pts rule name description
---- ---------------------- --------------------------------------------------
0.9 UNDISC_RECIPS Valid-looking To "undisclosed-recipients"
-1.4 ALL_TRUSTED Passed through trusted hosts only via SMTP
1.3 MISSING_SUBJECT Missing Subject: header
1.8 ADVANCE_FEE_3 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
3.0 ADVANCE_FEE_4 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
0.0 ADVANCE_FEE_1 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
0.6 ADVANCE_FEE_2 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam