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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (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: "contactmail00 Gazeta.pl" <contactmail00@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 11:10:08 +0100
Subject: Did you authorize anybody


Dear Customer

Did you authorize anybody who presented documents of
claim reported to have signed by you for the
immediate release of your part-payment of
US$5,000,000.00 Fivve Million USD Only?

Reconfirm back to us to avoid any irregularities as
the payment has already been proccesed and is about
to be wired to the account information provided to
us by your (representative).

If we did not hear from you after 72 working hours,
we'll be left with no choice that to wire the funds
to the account provided to us, and the management of
this bank has already concluded to deducted all the
transfer charges and has authorised us not to delay
your payment any longer.

Thank you.

Dr Tunde Lemo
Deputy Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam