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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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• 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.

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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:
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "azike mike" <mikeazike@student.com>
Reply-To: mikeazike18@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:32:01 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION:Beneficiary


ATTENTION:Beneficiary

From the records of outstanding foreign payments
due for release with banks in Nigeria, your name and contact was
discovered as next on the list of the outstanding foreigner's payment
which are still hanging on and who have not yet received their
payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
released to you as soon as you reconfirm your payment details so that
we can authenticate the claim legally. Also note that from our record
the Federal Government of Nigeria has only mapped out the sum of
US$6,700,000.00 Six million, seven hundred thousand united states
Dollars) to be released to you for now, after which the remaining part
of your claims will be released to you.
Kindly re-confirm to us the followings

(1) Your full name and mailing address.
(2) Telephone, and mobile
(3) Occupation:
(4) Age:

In receipt of the above information, your payment will be approved and
paid to you and wired to your nominated bank account or any other
payment means you are quire.
Yours truly,

MIKE AZIKE,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam