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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "industrial and commercial bank of china" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "please endeavor to " (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)
• 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.
  • wangchan1975@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: "HANISOM BT. ABDULLAH,6445" <c.wangchan@live.com>
Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:36:52 +0800 (MYT)
Subject: Re: Legitimate Offer!!!



Dear friend,
I am sincerely Sorry for bugging into your privacy, it's due to a business deal in my bank value at 21.5Million us dollars, as a foreigner l can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance since there is no written will by the deceased who Died at the Israeli checkpoint in jerusalem, as the director of system l have been following the records. However l am the only one aware of the funds and investigation so far in my bank due to my investigations.

l am Mr Wang Chan an Executive director working with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), this opportunity will be of mutual benefit to the two of us. I would provide you with all the necessary documents to lay claims and also I would avail you with the modalities we shall follow once I hear from you Because of my position in office, please endeavor to keep to yourself issue concerning this proposal. If you are interested, kindly get back to me with your full contact information's and phone number via this email:wangchan1975@yahoo.com.hk

Upon your response l will give you more details about this transaction, if not interested you can delete this mail.

Mr Wang chan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam