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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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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • willams.c003@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: osuji martins <osuji.m60077@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <willams.c003@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:27:35 +0000
Subject: VERY URGENT YOUR ATTENTION IS NEEDED



ATTN: Sir/Madam, FUNDS FOR INVESTMENTS THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE I HAVE NO PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOU.I AM THE CHAIRMAN TENDER BOARD OF THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC).I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN THE COURSE OF MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE PERSON WITH WHOM TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF FUND VALUED AT FIVE MILLION, UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$5M) TO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT. THE ABOVE FUND IN QUESTION IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ARMS, DRUGS OR MONEY LAUNDERING. IT IS A PRODUCT OF OVER INVOICED CONTRACT AWARDED IN 2006 BY INEC TO A FOREIGN COMPANY FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS THAT WHERE USED FOR CONDUCTING JUST CONCLUDED 2007 ELECTIONS. THE CONTRACT HAS LONG BEEN EXECUTED AND PAYMENT OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT MADE TO THE FOREIGN CONTRACTOR; THEREBY LEAVING THE BALANCE OF US$5MILLION IN A DORMANT ACCOUNT WHICH MY COLLEAGUE AND I NOW WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF NIGERIA INTOA RELIABLE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR OUR PERSONAL USE. AS CIVIL SERVANTS WE DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY FOREIGN ACCOUNT MACHINERY TO SUCCESSFULLYHANDLE THIS TRANSACTION THEREFORE IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO SOURCE FOR A FOREIGN COMPANY WITH THE CAPABILITY TO ACT AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OF THE CONTRACT. MY DEAR FRIEND, IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ENDORSED THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE SENATE THAT ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTORS OWED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA BE PAID, WE WILL SEIZE THIS GOODOPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT YOU AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES TO BE PAID. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL KINDLY GET BACK TO ME BY SENDING A LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE ALONG WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS. MEANWHILE, MY COLLEAGUE AND I HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THE MONEY IN THE FOLLOWING RATIO: 70% FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND I,THEN 30% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER.FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BEDISCUSSED IN THE SUBSEQUENT ORRESPONDENCE.THIS TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND RISK FREE. NOTE ALSO THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION AND THIS TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 15 WORKING DAYS SINCE ALL LOCAL CONTACTS AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEENPROPERLY PERFECTED FOR A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION. ALL RESPONSES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MY PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS AS: willams.c003@yahoo.fr THANKS.Willams Coker.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam