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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:
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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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Nduka Emmanuel" <enduka13@norilsk.biz>
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 15:30:57 +0100
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.


MY DEAR FRIEND,

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.I AM
MR EMMANUEL NDUKA,I WORK IN THE ECO-BANK COTTONOU, REPUBLIC OF BENIN,WEST
AFRICA, PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE ECO-BANK WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU.

I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN OVERSEAS WHICH I
SHIPPED THROUGH OUR ECO-BANK ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF
THEPACKAGE IS ($20,000,000.0) ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BELONGING TO OUR LATE
COSTOMER WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW
THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE.

ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS TO FORWARD TO ME THIS BELOW INFORMATION
YOUR CURRENT/PRIVATE MAILING ADDRESS YOUR PRIVATEPHONE AND FAX NUM AND I
HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY,YOU WILL HAVE 30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME AND
MY COLLEAGUES.MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BEREVEALED TO ANYBODY.

IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU, YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT (
emmanuelnduka@live.fr ) FOR SECURITY REASONS. OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE
DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE
BOXES TO YOU.

NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLY THROUGH E-MAIL FOR SECURITY REASONS.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR EMMANUEL NDUKA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam