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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:
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "sani abacha" (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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • barristeralidajuma_esq@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Ahmed Abacha" <muhammmed_abacha206@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: abacha_ahmed206@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 13:25:04 +0000
Subject: Assistance investment partner needed


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Ahmed Abacha, the eldest son of the late president of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha. I was falsely accused of murder and as such was imprisoned, but thanks to God, I have been released for my innocence. Well dear friend I need your assistance in transferring some of my money into your account, because the government is making plans to seize them, as they did to my fathers own.Please view this site and read it's content carefully,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/468903.stm
the amount is $25million in a Security Abroad. All that is needed is for me to
instruct the company to transfer the funds to your account, I will
remunerate you with 30% of the total funds transferred to your vital bank account as compensation for your assistance, To indicate your interest, contact my lawyer urgently and confidentially for more information and the roles you will play in this business. All the legal information concerning this Money will be sent to you as soon as we agree together. So I will get my private attorney to get you the needed information. If this proposal satisfies you, please contact my lawyer immediately with your full names, telephone and fax numbers to enable my lawyer to contact you. He shall handle this transaction from beginning to the end on my behalf .Contact him on his e.mail

(barristeralidajuma_esq@yahoo.com) Barrister Ali Dajuma Esq.

Looking forward to doing business with you.

Thanks for your cooperation.
Best Regard.
Ahmed Abacha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam