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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:
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • randy33nnaji@rocketmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: randy1nnaji@rocketmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:26:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: VERY URGENT


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: randy33nnaji@rocketmail.com



- Dear Sir, Please, Dr. Randy Nnaji a member, Board of Tender Committee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). My Committee is principally concerned with payment of all contract awarded from 1999 to date, in order of priority as regard capital Projects of the NNPC. In the course of our Duties as values, and project inspectors for the on-going liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, we have over-invoiced the value of the jobs done by foreign contractors for the NNPC to the tune of US$31M. As follows: - Computer optimization and installation $16,000.000.00 Installation of 250,000.00 Monax turbine $10,000.000.00 Turn Around Maintenance $5,000,000.00, Our aim of over-invoicing this payment is to divert the Excess amount to a discrete account abroad. This fund is now floating in suspense account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This is the fund my colleagues and I have decided to transfer into your account since we, as civil servants are not allowed to operate or own foreign account. If this proposal satisfies you, please contact me back for more detail information. Best Regards.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam