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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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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "contract award committee" (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: cyril perry <cperry251001@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <c.perry102007@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 21:23:48 +0000
Subject: MY DEAR FRIEND ,



MY DEAR FRIEND , I KNOW THAT THIS PROPOSAL MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE, ESPECIALY HAVING TO COME FROM SOMEONE YOU HAVE NOT MET BEFORE, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOUTO CO-OPERATE WITH ME SO THAT THIS $10M WILL BE RELEASED AND TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. MY NAME IS ENGR.CYRIL.M.PERRY, THE CHAIRMAN OF CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE OF NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (N.N.P.C). IT IS MY PROFOUND INTENTION TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION FOR TRANSFER OF $10M INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. THE $10M WAS THE OVER ESTIMATED BALLANCE FROM THE CONTRACTS AWARDED TO BOTH FOREIGN AND LOCAL CONTRACTORS. THE REAL CONTRACT VALUE WAS $200 MILLION DOLLARS BUT IT WAS OVER ESTIMATED TO $210 MILLION DOLLARS. THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULY EXECUTED BY THE CONTRACTORS AND THEIR CONTRACT SUM ($200M) HAS BEEN PAID TO THEM, LEAVING OUR OVER ESTIMATEDBALLANCE OF $10 MILLION DOLLARS STILL PENDING AT THE BANK. RIGHT NOW,WE ARE LEFT WITH THIS OVER ESTIMATED BALLANCE($10m) WHICH IS STILL FLOATING AT THE PAYING BANK AWAITING FINAL PAYMENT TO ANY RELIABLE FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNT YOU MAY PROVIDE. WE ARE THEREFORE ASKING YOU TO CO-OPERATE WITH US SO THAT THE FUND WILL BE RELEASED AND TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.WHEN THE FUNDS IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU WILL BENEFIT 30% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT. IN THIS REGARD,WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO SEND US THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS: YOUR NAME:-------YOUR OCCUPATION:----YOUR ADDRESS:----YOUR PRIVATE PHONE NUMBERS:-----YOUR PRIVATE FAX NUMBER:-------- YOUR REPLY AND INFORMATION REQUIRED SHOULD BE URGENT SO THAT WE WILL SUBMIT APPLICATION TO THE PAYING BANK FOR TRANSFER OF THE FUNDS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. I AM EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST.THANKS AND BEST REGARDS.YOURS FAITHFULLY,ENGR.CYRIL.M.PERRY.CHAIRMAN,CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE,
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam