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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:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • pketal3@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: " Captain Adrian Coleman" <link_serve2@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: linkeserve_info2@yahoo.es
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:52:52 +0200
Subject: Dear Good Friend

Dear Good Friend,

I am sorry for my late response due to the nature of my job here in
Iraq. I couldn't transfer the fund to your bank account via Bank to

scheduled due to the recent violence in Iraq. I met a friend of mine
who works with Red Cross here in Iraq Mr. Phillips Sketal but has
traveled to England,
United Kingdom for his leave, I pleaded with him to help me convene the
Two Sealed Metallic Boxes to England since he is traveling under Red
Cross Chartered
flight which he accepted. I believe that this option is the best and
safest, by now Mr. Phillips Sketal should be in England.
I sealed the Two Metallic boxes with US Marine Trend to avoid any
disturbance at the airport when delivery by the courier company. I gave
Mr. Phillips Sketal
$200 {Two hundred US Dollars} as the COURIER FEES to enable him send
the consignment to you through any of the reputable courier company as
soon as you contact him.
You are urgently needed to contact Mr. Phillips Sketal in England
through his personal E-mail address (pketal3@gmail.com) ,ask him to send
the Two
Metallic Sealed Boxes that you are the beneficiary, Remember to include
your personal information while contacting him to enable him send the
consignment to
you.
Your Full Name
Your direct contact Telephone Number
Your direct contact address.
Please make sure all your information is correct to avoid wrong
del
ivery.
Remember that the total fund in those boxes is $14 M {Fourteen Millions
US Dollar} .All I needed from you is Trust and Sincerity,don;t betray
me. As soon
as you received the consignment from the courier company, deduct 20% as
your assistance as initially agreed while you deposit the remaining 80%
in your bank
account pending when I will resign and come over to your country for
investment project with my own share of money.
Note.Please, don?t inform Mr. Phillips Sketal about the content of the
Two sealed Boxes. I told him is Family Treasure that belongs to a
friend of mine who
wants to leave Iraq because of the Violence. I have handed this
transaction over to you, take absolutely care of the consignment.

Captain Coleman
United State of America Army
Peacekeeping, Iraq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam