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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)
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • accountant_fred@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: ACCOUNTANT FRED JOHNSON <stb_acct2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <accountant_fred@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 10:01:23 +0100
Subject: FUND TRANSFER



THE ACCOUTTANT,,STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC,1/22, WAREHOUSE ROAD, APAPA, LAGOS, NIGERIA.EMAIL:accountant_fred@yahoo.com DEAR FRIEND, THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BUT IT IS OUT OF MY DESIRE TO SHARE THIS MUTUAL PROPOSAL WITH YOU, I APOLOGISE USING THIS MEDIUM TO REACH YOU FOR A BUSINESS/TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE, BUT THIS IS DUE TO CONFIDENCIALITY AND PROMPT ACCESS REPOSED ON THIS MEDIUM. IT IS WITH TRUST THAT I WISH TO CONTACT YOU ON THIS MATTER

MY NAME IS MR. ALFRED JOHNSON AN ACCOUNTANT IN STANDARD TRUST BANK HERE IN NIGERIA THERE IS A CONSIGNMENT CONTAINING A SUM OF (30,000,000.00USD)THIRTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS DEPOSITED IN OUR BANK FOR SAFE KEEPING BY ONE MR. FORRESTER WALTER BEFORE HIS DEATH, NO ONE HAS COME TO CLAIM THIS CONSIGNMENT AS A BENEFICIARY TILL DATE.

I AM HONORABLY SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AS FOLLOWS:- (1) I WANT YOU TO ACT AS A BENEFICIARY (2) I WANT YOU TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED

I WILL PROVIDE YOU THE ENTIRE NECESSARY DOCUMENT FOR THIS CONSIGNMENT TO PROVE THE CONSIGNEE AS A BENEFICIARY TO THE BANK, 40% OF TOTAL AMAOUNT MAPPED OUT FOR YOU WHILE THE 60% MAPPED OUT FOR ME. IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH MY CONDITION DO NOT HESITATE TO MAIL ME (accountant_fred@yahoo.com)

I WISH TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONTHANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION

MR ALFRED JOHNSON
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam