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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
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• 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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Engr.Joe Douglas" <engrjoedouglas013@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <engrjoedouglas@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:18:07 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND.



DEAR FRIEND, MY NAME IS JOE M. DOUGLAS, I AM A DIRECTOR IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN THE NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). I KNOW MY MAIL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AND ALSO EMBARRASSING, BUT I BEG FOR YOUR SINCERE UNDERSTANDING. I WANT YOU TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING WITH ME AND HANDLE THIS URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL WITH UTMOST SERIOUSNESS AND CAREFULNESS FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT.THIS BUSINESS INVOLVES US$4.5 MILLION (FOUR MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) WHICH I WANT US TO SECURE IN YOUR PERSONAL OR COMPANY ACCOUNT BY TRANSFERRING IT FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)TO YOUR ACCOUNT.THIS US$4.5 MILLION IS AN OVER-INVOICE OF A CONTRACT EXECUTED IN MY CORPORATION IN 2004. THE ORIGINAL FOREIGN CONTRACTOR WHO EXECUTED THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN PAID HIS REAL PAYMENT WHAT IS LEFT NOW IS THIS EXCESS US$4.5 MILLION. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO BE AFRAID, WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND DILIGENCE. WE SHALL SECURE THE MONEY WITHOUT ANY TRACE IN LESS THAN 21 WORKING DAYS.EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CONTRACT IS WELL KNOWN TO ME.WHAT IS NEEDED FROM YOU NOW ARE THE FOLLOWING:YOUR NAME AND COMPANY NAME (IF ANY), YOUR PRIVATE PHONE, FAX AND EMAIL ADDRESS AND THE PARTICULARS OF THE BANK ACCOUNT WHERE YOU WANT THE MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED.

ON THE CONCLUSION OF THIS BUSINESS I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY AND THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS: 25% FOR YOU, 70% FOR ME AND THE REMAINING 5% WILL BE USED TO PAY BACK ANY EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED ON THE PROCESS LIKE PHONE BILL. ONCE MORE I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT THIS BUSINESS IS RISK FREE, YOU SHOULD NOT FEAR FOR I HAVE EVERY DATA ABOUT THIS MONEY BUT YOU MUST KEEP EVERYTHING CONFIDENTIAL. I AM EXPECTING YOUR IMMEDIATE REPLY.THANKS.ENGR. JOE M. DOUGLAS.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam