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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348034900481 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "esmondmichael@gmail.com" <esmondmichael@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:46:54 -0700
Subject: RE: YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZZETED TO BE RELEASED TO YO


THE DESK OF:MR. ESMOND MICHEAL. DIRECTOR,INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE FOREIGN O=
PERATIONS DEPT, UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC, TEL:234-8034900481 LAGOS-NIGERIA.=
RE: YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZZETED TO BE RELEASED TO YOU. ATTENTI=
ON:SIR/MADAM YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS OF $15.5M THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOU=
R OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZZETED TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX=
TRANSFER (KTT )-DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOR=
EIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER. MEANWHILE,A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AG=
O WITH A LETTER,CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. HERE ARE HER INFORM=
ATIONS: NAME JANET WHITE BANK NAME: CITI BANK,YORK. ACCOUNT Number: 65038094=
28. PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN=
IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BEHELD RESPONSIBLE FOR =
PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME. THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR,EXECUTIVE, BOA=
RD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITTANCE F=
UNDHAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE D=
IRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFE=
R ALL FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENTOF THE YEAR. HOW=
EVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.WHITE,IF=
WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY. CONG=
RATULATIONS IN ADVANCE. BEST REGARDS, MR. ESMOND MICHEAL. DIRECTOR, INTERNAT=
IONAL REMITTANCE FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT, UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC, LAGOS-N=
IGERIA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam