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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
  (+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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +23418979287 (Nigeria, landline)
• 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.
  • franklin80001@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Franklin Amadi <franklin80001@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2006 07:00:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Request for Business Assistance



Barrister Franklin Amadi & Associates 15th July 2006
(Legal Practitioners)
Blk 804-Law House Building
Marina, Lagos - Nigeria.
EMAIL-ADDRESS: franklin80001@yahoo.com
Tel: 234-1-8979287

Dear Friend,


Following the death of my boss (Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) who died in a Spanish hospital after complication from a surgery operation. You can confirm this from the website AIRED from the BBC.NEWS.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4368806.stm,

I will kindly and urgently beg for your help to immediately get the bonded funds we were to clear from the security firm based in Spain before her surgery that eventually resulted in her death on the 22nd of October, 2005.

The total amount of the funds is Seven million, three hundred and twenty five thousand, eight hundred Euros (7,325,800.00, EURO’S). Please let me know what the funds can be invested in your care for profitable business ventures. I promise to give you 30% of the total sum. If Interested please reply to my private email address immediately above or call my telephone number for further discussion. Please note nobody knows about this business except my self and there is no risk involved.


Regards,


Barrister Franklin Amadi
Personal Assistance to the Late First Lady.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam