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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:
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: James Moore <mrjamesmtg690@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mrjamesmoore2000@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:09:30 +0000
Subject: Looking forward to a long term business relationship




Hello Dear,



Please kindly permit me to introduce myself and this business deal opportunity to do with you.My name is Mr James Moore . I am the Regional Manager of [icb] International Commercial Bank,
Accra branch,Ghana. I write you this proposal in good faith; I am
married with two lovely children. I am a man of peace, and have sincere
respect for human feelings and opinions. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I. As the Regional Manager of [icb] International Commercial Bank, Accra branch,Ghana. it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city, Accra at the end of each business year.



On the course of last year, 2008 business report, I discovered that the branch in which I am the Manager made 10.5million United States Dollars
($10,500,000.00) which my head office is not aware of and will never be
aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call Escrow call account
with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly
connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me
receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds
as commission.


There are practically no risks
involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, it will
be simply a bank-to-bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand
claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit
with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your
designated bank account under few working days. If you accept to work
with me I will appreciate it very much as you are the first and the
only person I am contacting for this transaction.



I hope I will receive news from you soon.Thank you in advance and God bless you and your family.



Sincerely,

Mr James Moore.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam