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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • eze_udezuo@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: gabrielchikeluo_55@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 21:45:18 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONTACT=20MY=20SECRETARY?=

Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day and God's blessings. I am glad to inform you that
I have successfully concluded the transaction,the money has been transferred
to London.It was done through the assistant of Mr. Howard Ferraro who is
a London base business man.Currently I am in London with him and my wife
and children.

However, I did not forget you because you are the source of my success,you
made me what I am now though you are not there to complete this project
with me but I gave all the credit and thanks to you.I know it is not your
fault or rather your wish to back off on me and the transaction,I understand
it was simply because of some circumstances you could not control.

In appreciate of your assistance I have mapped out as a compensation and
wrote on your favor a certified bank draft worth of US$800,000.00.(Eight
Hundred Thousand, United States Dollar Only) I left the draft with my Secretary
Mr. Eze Udezuo on my departure to London.
I would like you therefore,to contact him on the below info and instruct
him where to send the draft to because i have instructed him on that already.

Attn: Mr. Eze Udezuo
Email: eze_udezuo@yahoo.fr

I would have love to call you from London where I currently reside but due
to the business negotiations and efforts in trying to organise my business
here,it makes me unavailable until i settle down Feel free to contact my
secretary so that he can release your bank draft to you. Then get in touch
with me once you receive your draft so that we will rejoice over that together.

I will stop here. Once again,thank you very much and remain blessed.
Regards,

Barr.Gabriel Chikeluo

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam