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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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 us 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)
  • "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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024055643 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mr.jimmywalter@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. KEN UZOR" <mrkenuzor8@torba.com>
Reply-To: mrkenuzor@ubbi.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:39:22 -0700
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR VALID CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT


Dear Friends.



How are you today and hope all is well. Hope you have not forgotten me, my
name is Mr. Ken Uzor, the man from Nigeria I work in the credit And
Accounts Department of African Banking in Co-operation, Lagos, Nigeria. I
contacted you in respect of a foreign Customer with Domiciliary A/C number
2590074169. His Name is Mr. Erick Board. Some time ago to assist me secure
the release of some money 28.5M.



Though you were not able to assist me conclude the transaction, I'm happy to
inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the
assistance and cooperation of a new partner from Brazil. Presently I'm in
London-United Kingdom for investment projects with my own share of the total
sum I and my new partner agreed to compensate you with that amount for all
your past efforts and attempt to assist me in this matter.



Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring those funds, I made sure you are not left out the benefit of
the transaction hence me and my partner kept aside for you the sum of Two
Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. ($2,500,000.00) Draft.



Mean while, a woman came to MY SECRETARY OFFICE A few Days Ago with a
letter, claiming to be your true Representative.



HERE IS HER INFORMATION BELOW:

NAME MONA ABOD TAWIL

4031 Villa Vista

Palo Alto, CA 94306

BANK NAME: CITIBANK, ARIZONA, USA.

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809008.



Please, do reconfirm to MY SECRETARY, as a matter of urgency if this woman
is from you so that he will not be held responsible for paying into the
Wrong Name.



If this woman is not your Representative, You are requested to fill and send
this information for verification purpose so that your VALID CERTIFIED BANK
DRAFT US$2,500,000.00 MILLION US DOLLARS WILL NOT BE delivered to the wrong
hand please?



1) Your full name.



2) Phone, fax and mobile #.



3) Residential address



4) Company name, Office position and Company address.



5) Profession, Age and marital status.



I appreciated your efforts at that time very much, so feel free and get in
touch with my secretary Mr. Jimmy Walter, I have instructed him on how to
send the Bank draft to you.



In the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects which
me and my partner are having at hand, finally, remember that I had left
instruction to my secretary so as soon as you contact him, he will send your
information to the paying bank for the release of your Draft to you, so feel
free to get in touch with MY SECRETARY immediately with your information.



Please do let me know immediately you receive the Draft form the bank so
that we can share the joy together after all the sufferings at that time and
also forward your complete details like your:



Below is the contact of my secretary:

Mr. Jimmy Walter

E-mail: *mr.jimmywalter@yahoo.it*



Feel free to call me on my direct phone number in London +447024055643





With Best Regards,

Mr. Ken Uzor.

Tel: +447024055643

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam