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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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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 beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge amount of money" (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 "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:42:14 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: TO MY DEAR BELOVED............Charlotte



Dear Beloved,
 
I am Mrs Lisa Ambrus Beck from Switzerland. I married to Mr Raymond Beck, who worked with a construction company in London for twenty years. My husband was one of the people who died in london bomb blast, and We were married but unable to produce children during his life time and I am 60 years old now.
 
During his life time my husband deposited a huge amount of money with a finance firm in Lome - Togo West Africa ($48M) when he was alive for a construction company he wants to open in Africa before his death. However this money is still with the finance firm in Lome - Togo and the said finance firm just wrote me a letter to come forward for the release of the money since my husband is no more to handle this case and I am old to move on with the business due to my present condition since the death of my husband.
 
I was told to issue a letter of authorization to anyone I want to receive the fund on my behalf if I cannot come over. Presently I am in a hospital where I am undergoing treatment here in london, and I have lost my ability to talk and my doctor told me that my condition is very bad to say that I have few time to Live. I want a trustworthy person that will utilize 60% of this money to churches, orphanages and widows around the world on my name Mrs Lisa Ambrus Beck, while 40% of the total money will be for your help working with me in this matter, as soon as I hear from you I will then give you the contact of the finance firm in Lome - Togo where this fund is being deposited at the moment and guide you on what next to do.
 
I will also issue you a letter of authority that you will send to the finance firm for the release of the funds to your account as my next of kin (New Beneficiary) with the deposit certificate of the money deposited by my late husband in the finance firm.
Please I will need your assurance and promise that you will act accordingly as I stated here-in and keep this contact confidential till such a time this funds get to your custody.
 
This is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on earth, while waiting to hear from you stating your wish and position on this.
 
Thanks and God bless you,
 
Mrs Lisa Ambrus Beck.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam