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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "amed76" <amed76@terra.com.mx>
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 12:04:59 -0600
Subject: Assistance



DEAR SIR,
WE WRITE THIS LETTER WHICH
I PRAY SHOULD BE URGENTLY
REPLIED.
I GOT YOUR
CONTACT DURING MY YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE
FOREIGN
MINISTRY.
I MOHAMMED ENAGUA, PRESENTLY THE
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE IN THE FEDERAL
MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING
HEADQUARTERS , LAGOS
NIGERIA
I AM IN NEED OF YOUR GENUINE ASSISTANT AND
TRUST
BECAUSE AS A TOP OFFICIAL OF THE RULING
GORVERNMENT,
I
WANT TO SAFE GAURD MY INTEREST IN YOUR
COUNTRY
BEFORE
THE END OF THE TENURE OF THIS
ADMINITRATION,
MORE ALSO WE AS CIVIL
SERVANT ARE FORBIDDEN TO OWN
OR OPERATE ACCOUNT OVERSEAS HENCE A
FOREIGNER
IS NEEDED.
I PRESENTLY HAVE AN OVER INVOLCED
CONTRACT PAYMENT OF
USD38.5M(THIRTY-EIGHT FIVE
HUNDREDTHOUSAND
US
DOLLAR) WHICH HAS REMAIN UNCLAIMED SINCE
1997.MY
SUPERIOR IN THE PRESENDENCY HAVE
MANDATED ME
TO
PRESENT A HONEST FOREIGNER WHO CAN
CONVENIENTLY PROJECT
THIS FUND FOR US IN HIS BANK
ACCOUNT IN HIS COUNTRY. I SINCERELY
BELIEVE THAT YOU
CAN BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO US. THIS IS
WHY I
AM
CONTACTING YOU AND ALSO REQUESTING FOR
YOUR
DISCRETION,MATURITY AND
CO-OPORATION.
MY SUPERIORS HAS COMPLETED ALL
ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS
TO SEE THAT THIS FUND RECEIVES ALL THE
REQUEST
APPROVALS IMMEDIATELY YOU GIVE ME THE GO
AHEAD.
ALL I NEED FROM YOU ARE THE
FOLLOWING.
(1) BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER
(2)
NAME AND FULL ADDRESS OF YOUR
NORMINATED BANK WITH
TELEPHONE AND FAX
NUMBERS
(3) YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX
NUMBERS FOR
EASY
COMMUNICATION BE! TWEEN US.
I SHALL SEND
YOU BY FAX DETAIL OF THE CONTRACT
EXECUTED SOON AFTER I RECEIVE
YOUR MESSAGE.
YOU
WILL BE ENTITLED TO 30% OF THE TOTAL
FUND
IMMEDIATELY WE ARRIVE YOUR COUNTRY FOR
SHARING.
10%
WILL COVER ALL MISCALLANEOUS EXPENSES WE
SHALL DO
BOTH
HERE AND IN YOUR COUNTRY. PLEASE
ENDEAVOUR TO REACH
ME FOR MORE
DETAILS.
DO NOT HESITATE TO SEND ME
A MESSAGE AND CALL AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
I SINCERELY COUNT ON YOUR ASSISTANCE.

REMEMBER IAM
HIGHLY PLACED OFFICIAL AND EXPECT
ABSOLUTE
DISCRETION
FROM YOU IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR HONOUR
FROM FOREIGN JOURNALIST WHO
SEEK TO DESTROY MEMBERS
OF OUR RULING CIVILIAN GORVERNMENT
THIS TRANSACTION IS HITCH-FREE, SO YOU NEED
NOT
ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR AT ALL.
I
EXPECT YOUR REPLY IMMEDIATELY.
BEST REGARDS,
MR
MOHAMMED ENAGUA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam