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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "maryam 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "musa ibrahim" <jantaylor1506@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:10:26 +0000
Subject: INVESTMENT

ATTN:

My name is Barrister MUSA IBRAHIM (SAN) I am a private attorney, and I
have
a client who is interested in investing some good money in your
country.

My client is a very important and prominent person who has mandated me
to
contact you for a very important business transaction my client is by
name Mrs. Maryam Abacha and she is the wife of a Late Military head of
state in my country.

Her husband Late General Sanni Abacha made a lot of money through Oil
proceeds during his tenure in office. In fact it was discovered after
his
death that he was worth well over $65 million United State Dollars
and
some of this money was retrieve after he died while some was recovered
from officials that served under him during his reign as president of
Nigeria.
The truth of this case is that my client despite the problem she is
going
through now, she still has a lot of money in her possession, which she
intends to invest outside our country.
What my client need from you now is reliable account where she can
transfer some money but mind you, all the money in her possessions
cannot
leave at once because she need to build confidence and trust.

In some who would not expose her plan to remit and possibly invest in
your
company . so she has agreed that I should make arrangements for the
transfer of $25 million United States dollars and you are free to
negotiate your mode of compensation even as she intends to invest the
money in your country.

Please, do not hesitate to indicate your view of this request by
contacting me immediately you receive this mail so that the necessary
arrangements can be made for the money to leave immediately.

Due to the present situation of my client, I would be happy if this
request
can be kept a secret.

I would also like you to note that there is no risk involved.

Awaiting for your urgent reply .

Thank Best regards,

Barrister MUSA IBRAHIM (SAN)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam