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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "into 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993052379 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Ola Ahmed <ol_ahmed@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2006 04:13:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: VERY URGENT


Attention Amarj Singh

Dear sir,
My name is Dr.Ola Ahmed,I am the controller General Economic
Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Fund monitorying Unit.We monitor
incoming and outgoing funds from the West African Sub region.

We have the mandate to review and transfer your money into your
nominated bank account.Your payment file was forwarded to this office for
vetting and approval after which we will transfer your payment into your
nominated bank account as stated bellow,

I wish to inform you that a lot of derogatory remarks have been made
on your file and with this your payment has been delayed.I am revealing
this to you because i want to help you receive your inherittance with
my position.Proper documentations were not carried out and this has
caused this delay and suspicion from the authority.As i said i am revealing
all this to you because i want to help you receive your money with the
following conditions
1.That you will give me 5% of the total amount if the money is
received into your account
2You will sign and return to me a promisory note to that amount that
you will give me if you seccessfully receive the money into your
account
3.You will provide two return tickets for my wife and my secretary
who will come to receive the money on my behalf because i will not be
able to travell out of the country for now.

If you agree on the conditions stated above let me hear from you soon
and i will facilitate the transfer and you will receive the money into
your account within the next three days(3days)

I will provide you with other neccessary informations as soon as i
hear from you.

My private telephone number is +22993052379 Call me now.

Best regards
Dr.Ola Ahmed

Please confirm the account particulars


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam