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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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. )
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • martins_cassidy@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: martins taylor <martinstaylor56788@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:08:43 +0000
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY NEEDED



FROM Mr MARTINS TAYLOR
UNBEHALF OF TAYLOR FAMILY

SIR/MADAM,

It is with heartfelt hope that I write to seek your co-operation and assistance in the context stated below. May I first introduce myself? I am Mr. MARTINS TAYLOR, a cosine of CHARLES TAYLOR (former head of state and President of the Federal Republic of Liberia ) who was NOW IN LIFE JAIL?

ATTENTION PLEASE,

if you can assist me receive the sum of US$9.4M(NINE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) of our family money kept with some security companies vaults in overseas, get back to me immediately to enable us proceed at once.

The money was kept in a consignment with a Security Company overseas and I have all documents with me as of when it was deposited in a Security Vault for safekeeping. This money has been defaced for Security reasons and also to avoid it been spent by unauthorized persons. We have been deliberating on how to invest this fund abroad in a confidential manner until we came to a conclusion to invest it in the buying of estates and part of it will be used for non-speculative investments in your country. I am therefore soliciting your help to collect the consignment of money on my instruction for the release to you and after then transferred into your account. I will give you all the necessary documentations to facilitate your collection of the consignment of money personally in overseas.

The government has no or will never have knowledge of this money, so there is no need to be worried about your safety. I guarantee your safety. Once I have your complete assurance that you can handle this, I will immediately send to you the relevant documents that you will provide to the security company in overseas to enable you take possession of the consignments of money. This will include certificate of deposit and letter of authorization.

Meanwhile all I need from you is as follows:

1. Confirmation of your ability to handle this.
2. Your word that you will keep this business as confidential as possible at all times.
3. Your Name, address and telephone numbers for easy communication

I will compensate you sincerely for your candid effort in this regard with 30% of the total amount of $9.4 Million US Dollars, while 10% has been set aside for minor expenses such as telephone and other bills that you might incure. The remaining 60% will be invested meaningfully for me and my family future.

I look forward to your quick response while thanking
you for your co-operation.

Best wishes,

MR MARTINS TAYLOR
FOR THE FAMILY.

kindly contact me on ID
E-mail martins_cassidy@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam