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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "donaldjchris@cantv.net" <donaldjchris@cantv.net>
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:37:37 -0430
Subject: GREETINGS DEAREST ONE

FROM DONALD AND CHRISTELLE
 
GREETINGS  DEAREST ONE
THIS LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISED SINCE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS CORESPONDENCE.THIS IS AS A RESULT OF THE HELPLESS SITUATION WE FOUND OUR SELVES INTO. MY NAME IS DONALD AND MY SISTER IS CHRISTELLE , I AM 18 YEARS OLD BOY AND MY SISTER IS 15,I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, CAPABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN ASSIST US IN THIS DARKEST MOMENT OF OUR LIFE.
 
WE LOST OUR FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS, IN A CAR  ACCIENT  WHEN  OUR DRIVER  WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE ACROSS THE RAILWAY WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE TRAIN WAS ALREADY AT THAT POINT WITH SPEED. I AM ALIVE WRITING YOU BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE AT HOME WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER(CHRISTELLE) AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WE ARE WRITING YOU NOW FROM MADAM BANGURY RESIDENCE WHERE WE STAY NOW WITHOUT  PARENTS OR ANY ONE TO HELP.BEFORE OUR FATHER'S SUDDEN DEATH, HE KEPT THE SUM OF US$9,000,000.00( NINE  MILLION US DOLLARS) IN CASH WITH ONE OF THE PRIME BANKS HERE INCOTE'DIVOIRE.NOW THAT HE IS LATE AND  WE ARE THE ONLY ONES  LEFT BEHIND. WE ARE WRITING YOU TO ASSIST US TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, INVEST IT IN A PROFITABLE BUSINESS AND RELOCATE US TO JOIN YOU IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT OF INSECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY HERE, WE DO NOT WANT TO STAY HERE ANY LONGER.
 
 
WE GIVE  ALMIGHTY GOD THE GLORY AND THANKS THAT OUR FATHER DID NOT DIE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT BUT HE DIED AFTER THREE DAYS OF THE ACCIDENT.HE GAVE ME ALL THIS  INFORMATION WHILE HE WAS  AT THE HOSPITAL BED.WE WILL BE VERY GLAD IF YOU CAN ASSIST US CONTACT THIS  BANK WHERE OUR FATHER DEPOSITED THIS  FUNDS ,WE ARE READY TO PASS TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATIONS THAT OUR  FATHER GAVE TO ME ON HOW TO GET THIS FUNDS OUT  FROM  THE BANK IMMEDAITELY ONLY  IF  YOU  WILL PROMISE US THAT WE WILL NOT BE BETRAYED AT THE END, WE ARE PREPARED TO GIVE YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE AFTER THE TRANSFER.  TRY AND REPLY US WITH OUR  EMAIL ADRESS.

WE ARE WAITING TO  HEAR  FROM YOU .
 
REGARDS,
 
DONALD AND CHRISTELLE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam