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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:

• 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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • larry.benjamin@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "james owette" <owettejames@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 08 Oct 2006 05:37:57 +0100
Subject: HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

ATTN: THE PRESIDENT/CEO

Dear One,

URGENT AND STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Reaching you is courtesy of my favourite international
business directory, which vividly tells your position
and capability to execute this business presently with
me in my office.

We have Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars only (US$30, 500,000.00) which we got
from over inflated contracts awarded to foreign
contractors in the Federal Airport Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN).

We are seeking your permission to transfer this money
into your bank account. This money will be shared
between you and we (Colleagues) over here in Nigeria.

We have agreed to share the funds as follows;

I. 30% of the total sum for you (Account Owner)
II. 65% of the total sum for us (The officials
involved) III. 5% of the total sum for settling all
financial expenses being incurred by you and us in
the course of this transaction.

We will visit you immediately we conclude this
transaction to collect and invest our share of the
total sum into anyviable business you may advise in
your country.

Please let me know if you are interested in this
business by replying urgently.

Full details of this business shall be sent to you
upon receipt of your reply. For the purpose of
communication in this matter, please give us your
telephone and fax numbers including your private home
telephone number.

We await your urgent reply and be rest assured that
this transaction is 100% risk free, there is no risk
involved on both sides.

Yours faithfully,
James.

NOTE: REPLY TO MY PRIVETE EMAIL: larry.benjamin@hotmail.com

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam