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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: ibm_m007@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2006 10:19:55 GMT
Subject: Reply To Your Ad at the Ezilon Free Classified Ads

Dear Ahmet MEMIS,

My name is IBRAHIM MANTU,I was the chairman of the Nigeria's Senate Committee on Contract Award from 1999 to 2005,during that period I successfuly secured the sum of $8.4m for myself which I secretely kept in a security company in my country.

As you may already know, there will be a general election in my country in the year 2007 when most of the present public officers will leave office especialy those of us that would have been there for 2 terms(8 years).For that reason, I will need to get the money that I have gotten for myself transferred out of my counrty as soon as possible because very soon, the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC) will start probing most of us before the election and I will not want them to discover this fund.

I have now decided to contact you so you can help me get the money transferred into your account since my country's constitution does not allow public officers to operate foreign bank accounts.Please if you know that I cannot trust you in keeping this money for me,do not reply me because I have plans of investing it in your country.

As soon as the money has been transferred into your account, I will compensate you with $2.4m for your effort.

You are also required to assist me in investing the money in your best interest since you will manage it untill I come to your country to take over from you.Please I would want you to be very honest with me because it is not easy entrsuting someone with somuch money but I am ready to take the risk since it said that''the higher the risk, the higher the profit''

I expect your reply soon.

IBRAHIM MANTU.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam