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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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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "vicent golo" <vicentgolo@msn.com>
Reply-To: vicentgolo@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:23:06 +0000
Subject: Your Divine fAVOUR

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.
I AM MR. VICENT GOLO, I WORK IN THE CITY TRUST BANK COTONOU REPUBLIC OF
BENIN, WEST AFRICA, PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT.I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN
MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE CITY
TRUST BANK WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU. I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR
THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN SHIP WHICH I WANTED TO SHIPPED IN THROUGH
OUR CITY TRUST BANK ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT TO YOUR COUNTRY, THE CONTENTS
OF THE PACKAGE IS ($22,000,000.00) ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BELONGING TO OUR
LATE PRESIDENT WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT
KNOW THAT IT IS HIS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE.

ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS TO FORWARD TO ME THIS BELOW INFORMATION.
YOUR FULLNAME, AGE, OCCUPATION,RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS OR OFFICE CURRENT/PRIVATE
MAILING ADDRESS, PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUM AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE
DAY, YOU WILL HAVE 30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.
MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANYBODY. IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY
YOU, YOU CAN E-MAIL ME FOR SECURITY REASONS. OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE
DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE
BOXES TO YOU.
NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLY THROUGH E-MAIL FOR SECURITY REASONS.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR.VICENT GOLO

IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL AND FEEL THAT YOU WILL ASSIST ME IN THIS
MATTER, SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS ON HOW TO GET THE CONSIGNMENT OF MONEY
DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR SINCERITY TOWARDS THIS MATTER.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam