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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • uchennaobi2006@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "uchennaobi" <uchennaobi@wooow.it>
Reply-To: uchennaobi2006@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 05:55:44 +0100
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed''

DEAR FRIEND,

Permit me to introduce myself, my name is Mr.Uchenna Obi I
work with Union Bank of Nigeria Limited as (Assistant
Auditor),in the discharge of my duty, I stumbled on this
domiciliary account that has remained dormant for three
years now with fourty two million United States
dollars(US$42m) in it.

I contacted my director and we sent out staff for enquiries
and discovered that the account holder died in an accident.
I am writing you so that we can work together to remit the
money to you as the next of kin because this money belongs
to a foreigner and has to be claimed by a foreigner.

I guarantee this transaction under legitimate arrangements
that will not breach the law by both parties; it is simple
process, which will take a short while to process. If I hear
from you, I will tell you all you need to know about the
money. In your reply include your private telephone fax full
name contact address and your banking information where you
wish the money will be transferred.
N.B all correspondence which be directed to this mail
address:uchennaobi2006@yahoo.com

Best Regards,
Mr.Uchenna Obi.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam