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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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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "courier company" (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.
  
• 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.
  • speed_way@consultant.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: ericsipho9@ananzi.co.za
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:30:32 +0200
Subject: CONTACT SPEEDWAY COURIER FOR YOUR CHECK


DEAR FRIEND
I DID NOT HEAR FROM YOU SINCE THAT TIME, YOU JUST DECIDED TO QUITE THE DEAL,
WELL I MUST TELL YOU THAT I SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFARING THE FUND OUT OF MY
COUNTRY. CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY BELOW FOR YOUR CONFRMABLE CHECK OF
$800,000,00 THOUSAND USD WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU AS A CONPENSATION FOR LITTLE
EFFORT TO ASSIST ME IN THAT TRANSACTION, I DEPOSTED IT WITH SPEEDWAY COURIER
COMPANY,SO CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY VIA THE CONTACT INFO BELOW:
P.R.O: MR. SOLOMON BENT, Email: speed_way@consultant.com
I PAID FOR THE DELIVERY AND INSURANCE CHARGES EXCEPT THEIR SECURITY KEEPING
FEE OF $190 USD WHICH THEY DISAGREED TO COLLECT FROM ME BECAUSE THEY DON'T
KNOW WHEN YOU WILL CONTACT THEM FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE CHECK, IN CASE OF
DEMURRAGES. SO YOU ARE TO PAY THE $190 AS SOON AS YOU CONTACT THEM. PLEASE
SEND TO THEM YOUR PERSONAL CONTACT DETAILS.
1, FULL NAME.................,2, DELIVERY ADDRESS........,3, PHONE
NUMBER...........
REGARDS,
MR ERIC MOYO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam