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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (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: "George Francis" <georgefrancis1113@msn.com>
Reply-To: georgefrancis@o2.pl
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 10:49:38 +0000
Subject: MAIL FROM MR. GEORGE FRANCIS (REPLY FOR MORE DETAILS)

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
GENERAL COMPUTING,
PACKAGING/COURIER OFFICE
TAFAWABELEWA SQUARE, ABUJA – NIGERIA
>From the desk of MR GEORGE FRANCIS
CBN PACKAGING/COURIER OFFICER

CONFIDENTIAL
I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME I
AM MR.GEORGE FRANCIS; I FORMERLY WORK IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,
PACKAGING
AND COURIER DEPARTMENT.
I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH THE INTERNET
WHILE I WAS SEARCHING FOR A GOOD PERSON FOR THIS MUTUAL BUSINESS
.
I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN EUROPE
WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR CBN ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF
THE PACKAGE IS $22,100,000.00 ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY
DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE.
ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS THIS GIVE ME YOU’RE MAILING ADDRESS
YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX. AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WILL
HAVE 30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME .MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO
ANYBODY.

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 TELEPHONE AND E-MAIL
FOR SECURITY REASONS.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR GEORGE FRANCIS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam