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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (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.
  
• 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.
  • john_obi_1@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "john obi" <remondwilson@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: john_obi_3@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 11:27:13 +0100
Subject: please reply me

FROM THE DESK OF John Obi.
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION.
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
EMAIL:john_obi_1@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Friend,

I am Mr. John Obi chairman contract award committee for the petroleum
special trust fund.I know that these letters will come to you as a surprise
since we have not met in person. please bear with me. we are in search for a
reliable and honest partner abroad that we can entrust with the sum of us$35
million.(THIRTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY)
These funds originated from contract we executed for the petroleum trust
fund (PTF) Purpose for the supply and installations of oil-pipeline to
Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries. This contract has been executed and full
payments have been made to the contractors who executed these contract
leaving behind us$35 million)
as an over-invoice amount for we the committee members. In view of this,my
colleagues have mandated me to look for a foreign partner abroad who will
receiveThese fund on our behalf. Which means that you will provide us with
any account of your choice where we can lodge these fund immediately.I will
be visiting your country upon your confirmation in receipt of fund in your
nominated account to know you better and discuss investment or importation
of goods back to our country.
DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUND IS AS FOLLOWS:30% of the total sum will be your
shareWhile 60% will be for me and my colleagues 10% will be an outstanding
amount to settle any incurred expenses during the transfer. WE ASSURE YOU
THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE AND VERY LEGITIMATE AS ALL
MODALITIES HAVE BEEN PERFECTED BY US WITH OUR CONNECTION IN GOVERNMENT.
What matters most is honesty on your side and for you to keep everything
confidential until this fund is dully remitted into your nominated account.
If this business interests you, please do not hesitate to email me as a
matter of urgency with your contact phone and fax numbers so that I can give
you more details. Cheers and God bless you.
Mr.John Obi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam