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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +2348036360214 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • johnsonwillan15@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Johnson Brown" <johnsonbrown0002@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnsonokey10@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:51:21 +0200
Subject: GOOD DAY PLEASE GET BACK FOR MORE DETAILS


*

Dr. Johnson willan
Director Project Implementation
Federal Ministry of Health
And Social Services,
Lagos-Nigeria.
Tel: 234 8036 360214*
*

EMAIL johnsonwillan15@yahoo.com

Strictly Confidential Business Proposal
Dear Friend*



*TRANSFER OF US$11.5 MILLION INTO A PERSONAL / COMNPANYS OFFSHORE ACCOUNT.*

Based on the information Gathered from the Ministry of Trade and Finance
Industry, we intend to Solicit your Assistance on this Transaction with you
on the Assumption that you will not disappoint us. We have *(Eleven Million,
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) U.S$11.500 000.00 *which we made over time
from our inflated contracts in my Ministry Federal Ministry of Health and
Social Service.

We are seeking your Assistance and Permission to Remit this Amount into your
Account or any other Nominated Account, you can Provide for us. Your
Commission will be* 30% *of the Total Sum,* 20% *for Expenses and the
remaining* 50% *is for Myself. Please, notify me, your Acceptance to carry
out this Transaction Urgently by sending your Personal Confidential
Information. Kindly, Acknowledge as Urgent.

*Thanks for your Co-operation.

Yours Faithfully,

Dr. Johnson willan.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam