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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: hope johnson <hopejohnsonmd@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:19:33 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY


FROM THE DESK OF DR. HOPE JOHNSON
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
FOREIGN DEBT RECONCILIATION PANEL
(CONTRACT PAYMENT, COSTING, INVESTIGATION AND APPROVAL)

ATTN:
RE: YOUR PAYMENT FILE ON MY DESK
I HAVE GONE THROUGH YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT FILE AS DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENCY, AND SEEN THAT IT WILL TAKE US A LONG PROCESS FOR YOUR MONEY TO BE RELEASED DUE TO SOME IRREGULARITIES DETECTED IN YOUR FILE. DURING OUR INVESTIGATION, WE FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE SPENT SO MUCH IN TRYING TO REALIZE YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT, WHICH DID NOT EVEN REFLECT IN YOUR FILE, BUT I HAVE AN OFFER, WHICH WILL AT LEAST HELP YOUR FINANCIAL STAND UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT.
THIS OFFER IS AN AMOUNT FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEFT OVER. IT IS A TOTAL SUM OF US$17,600,000.00 (SEVENTEEN MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS), WHICH WILL BE SHARED BETWEEN YOU AND I IN THE RATIO OF 50% - 50%. THIS AMOUNT IS NOT FROM YOUR CONTRACT SUM OR HAVE ANY THING RELATED TO YOUR CONTRACT SUM, RATHER IT IS A LEFT OVER FROM THE AMOUNT USED IN PAYING LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND IT IS DIRECTLY UNDER MY CUSTODY. I AM OFFERING YOU THIS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THAT YOUR CONTRACT FUND WILL NOT BE RELEASED ON TIME UNTIL ALL THE ANOMALIES ARE RECTIFIED AND ALSO BECAUSE YOU ARE A GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR.
THE ONLY THINGS NEEDED FOR THIS US$17.6 MILLION TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT UNDER 24 HOURS ARE AS FOLLOW: - A BANK ACCOUNT, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS IN YOUR FILE.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT PAYMENT, THEREFORE THERE WILL BE NO BUREAUCRACY OR MISFORTUNE. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE THIS DEAL WITH ME, YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY ON MY EMAIL FURNISHING ME WITH YOUR NEW ACCOUNT. ALSO BE INFORMED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL TAKE US JUST 48 HOURS TO ACCOMPLISH.

YOURS TRULY,
DR. HOPE JOHNSON

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam