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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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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)
  • "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)
  • "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • jobi101@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3ajobi101@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Obi Jerry" <jobi103@mailbox.hu>
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 03:50:33 -0700
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU??


Dear Friend,

CAN I TRUST YOU??

Dear My name is Barrister Jerry Obi , a close confident to one of the
state Governors in Nigeria,I am contacting you in regards to some funds
deposited with a bank here in Nigeria which he wants to move out of the
country to a reliable person who I can establish in claim of the fund for
investment.

I contacted you and my contact with you is based on a legitimate
arrangement. I am contacting you because I feel I could trust you. The fund
in the bank is $20.5million dollars. Due to the importance of this matter, I
would appreciate if you can write me back to enable me detail you further
about this matter. I do understand that this will sound so skeptical but I
assure you that it islegitimate. Please you are not compelled to proceed
with me because I require someone that is highly responsible and trust
worthy. I will not release every information regarding this matter until I
hear back from you. Then if I am satisfied, I will detail you with every
information regarding this transaction and also give you more information
about myself to enable you have an idea of the person that you are dealing
with.

We shall negotiate the percentage split during our future
correspondence. I await your immediate response.

Reply me here:jobi101@sify.com <here%3Ajobi101@sify.com>

Best regards,
Barrister Jerry Obi (Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam