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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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: "dennyumar" <dennyumar@lycos.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 15:45:49 +0000 (GMT)
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. DENNY UMAR, 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 OVER SEAS WHICH I SHIPPED IN THROUGH OUR CITY TRUST BANK ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT 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 HAV
E 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. DENNY UMAR 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


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam