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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: nkosijohn@aol.com
Date: Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:49:51 +0200
Subject: From Nkosi John

FROM JOHN NKOSI

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Tel:-0027-83-416-0572



Dear Sir/Madam,
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
I am John Nkosi (FCAA), the chief accountant of African Development Bank Of South African (ADBSA). There is an online account opened in this bank in 1999 and since 2006 nobody has operated this online account. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing. The owner of this account is Mr. Smith B. Zafer, a foreigner, and a miner at Kruger Gold Company. He Was a Geologist by profession and he died since 2000. No other person knows about this account or anything concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that this Company does not know anything about this account and the money involved is Fifteen Million United States Dollars (US$ 15 Million). You are the only person that I have contacted in this Business; so Please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take immediately. Send also your telephone and fax .
Meanwhile, I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner with a foreign account as a beneficiary. I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you as soon as you indicate your sincerity to co-operate with me, and capability to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust, according to my instruction and advice, for our mutual benefit because this opportunity may never come again in my life. I need a truthful and God fearing person in this Business because I don't want to make a mistake so I need your strong assurance and trust. With my position in the office I don't want anything that will jeopardize my job so I advice that we should make secrecy and confidentiality our primary working condition, bearing in mind that I am a public servant. I will also use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of this money t
o your account with appropriate clearance forms from the ministries and foreign exchange department. I will compensate you adequately depending on the terms we shall agree on subsequently. You can get back to me on this email address: nkosijohn@aol.com
I look forward to your earliest reply.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN NKOSI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam