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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 22:06:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IMPORTANT!!!!


DEAR
=A0=A0=A0=A0=20
HOPE ALL IS WELL, I KNOW THAT THIS WILL COME TO U STRENGE BUT IS MY PLESURE=
TO TELL U THIS,
=A0AM JIM PAUL=A0=A0 THE SON OF LATE CHIEF JOHN=A0 PAUL FROM SERRIA LOANE, =
AM {17}YERS OLD BOY SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT U CAN HELP ME,
=A0I HAVE A CONSIGNMENTT OF $ 6, 000.000 (SIX MILLION US DOLLARS US DOLLARS=
) IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN ACCRA,=20
AND I NEED A FORIGN PARTINAR TO RECIVE THIS MONEY FOR ME, BECAUSE AM IN AFR=
ICA RIGHT HERE IN GHANA,=20
=A0I AM THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS FUNDS AS THE ONLY SURVIVING CHILD OF MY FAM=
ILY,=20
MY LATE FATHER TOLD ME BEFORE HE DIED THAT DOCUMENT THAT THE SECURITY COMPA=
NY GAVE TO HIM WHEN HE DEPOSITED THIS FUND WITH THEM STATE THAT THE FUND WO=
ULD NOT BE RELEASE TO ME UNLESS I GET I FOREIGN PARTNER TO INVEST THE MONEY=
WITH IN HIS OR HER COUNTRY,=20
SO PLEASE IF YOU CAN RELY HELP YOU CAN REPLY ME BACK

BEST REGARDS,
JIM PAUL..=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam