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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "paul eboka" <ppauleboka03@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:42:40 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND


DEAR FRIEND,

REQUEST FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION/ASSISTANCE

MAY I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE TO OPEN THIS BUSINESS DISCUSSION BY A
FORMAL LETTER OF THIS SORT.
IT IS IMPORTANT , TO LET YOU NOTE THAT I HAVE CONTACTED ONE DR SMITH
EARLIER, BUT COULD NOT DEAL WITH HIM SINCE HE WANTED A SHARE OF 40% OF
THE TOTAL CONTRACT SUM. HE HAS HOWEVER AGREED TO ACCEPT 10% OF
THE TOTAL CONTRACT SUM FOR SPONSORING THE PROJECT. I AM READY TO
GIVE OUT 25% FOR YOUR EFFORT.10% GOES FOR THE SPONSOR OF THE PROJECT.
DR SMITH HAD AGREED TO SPONSOR THE PROJECT AND HIS WILLING
TO ISSUE A CHEQUE OR BANK DRAFT TO COVER THE COST OF THE PROJECT.
HE WILL BE ADVANCING sOME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO YOU IN ORDER TO PROVE
THAT THIS IS NOT A SCAM. HAVING SAID THE ABOVE, PERMIT ME TO INTRODUCE
MYSELF, I AM ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND
PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM. THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY
CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISAL AND THE APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS IN
ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS OF THE PAST MILITARY
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA WITH OUR POSITIONS WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR
OURSELVES THE SUM OF TEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUNSAND DOLLARS
(US$10.5M).
I PLAN TO TRANSFER THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY TEN
MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS (US$10.5M) INTO AN
OVERSEAS ACCOUNT BY AWARDING A NON EXISTING CONTRACT FROM MY MINISTRY
(NNPC). TO THIS EFFECT I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE.
WHAT I NEED FROM YOU SIR, IS TO PROVIDE YOUR FULL NAMES FOR THE CHEQUE
OR DRAFT TO BE ISSUED, YOUR MAILLING ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER
I HAVE AGREED TO COMPENSATE THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT USED FOR THIS
TRANSACTION WITH 25% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT REMITTED. WE SHALL KEEP 65%
AND REMAINING 10% RESERVED FOR TAXES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS
EXPENSES.PLEASE SIR, KINDLY TREAT AS VERY URGENT AND STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL,
I HONESTLY ASSURE YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.

BEST REGARDS

PAUL EBOKA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam