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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:
  • "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <mike_merry41@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 04:17:29 +0000
Subject: Greetings,



Greetings,
I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business.Though,this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication. However, confidence. Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal Ethics and you should not be much surprise on this urgent assistance needed from you.
I am Mr.Mike Merry, Group Accountant in well-known Bank here in Bank of Scotland . However, I have already Sent you this same letter by post one month ago, but I am not sure that the letter promptly get to you since I have not heard from you, hence my resenting it again.
I discovered a dormant account in my office, as Group Accountant with Bank of Scotland.
It will be in my interest to transfer this fund worth of US$48,500 000.00 (fourty Eight million Five Hundrend Thousand U.S dollars Only).in an account offshore. Can you be my partner?
It is my intention to achieve this transfer in a legitimate way, all I required is your honest co-operation, and confidentiality and trust to enable us see this transaction through. This is a very legal business that I am very sure of its success and is absolutely risk free.
Regards and respect,Mr.Mike Merry.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam