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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • erkmadu02@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Erik=20Madu?= <erkmadu02@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: erikmmadu1@myway.com
Date: Mon, 8 May 2006 14:11:14 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION!!!


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: erkmadu02@yahoo.co.uk

URGENT ATTENTION!!!

FROM THE DESK OF:

DR.ERIK MADU.

ACCOUNTANT.

UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC.,

V/ISLAND LAGOS.


ATTN:SIR/MA


I am Dr.Erik Madu. an accountant with the UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC and I

need your assistance in remmitting a huge amount of money to your bank

account this money which originally belonged to Mr. Charles Fredrick a

national of your country who until his death was an employee with Shell


Oil Company in Nigeria,he died in Plane Crash with members of his

families 5 years ago,since then we have made several enquiries to your

embassy to locate any of the extended relatives and this has proved

unsuccessful.


After several unsuccessful attempts I decided to track your name over

the Internet to locate any member of his family. I have contacted you to

assist me in repatriating the money left behind by Mr.Charles Fredrick,

before thebank will declares it unserviceable.


Note that after final discusions with one of my superior in the TELEX

DEPARTMENT we arrived at contacting you as the next of kin to claim this

fund to your nominated bank account before the account is declared

confiscated,note also that this transfer will be concluded within the next

(7) seven official working days. I seek your consent to present you as

the next of kin to the deceased so that the $15million dollars can be

remmitted to your account and then we can share the money,25% to you and

70% for us, while 5% will take care of all expenses that might be

incured on the cause of the transfer. All I require is your honest

co-operation to enable us see this deal through.


I advise that you send across to me your contact address,direct phone

and fax number for prompt communication, and I guarantee you that this

transaction will be executed under a legitimate atmosphere that will

protect you from any breachof transaction / law. Call me on my number

+234-1-776-8029


Regards,


DR.ERIK MADU.

ACCOUNTANT.

(UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC).

- Erik Madu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam