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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)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "James Martins" <jamesmartin0099995@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jamesmartins004@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 11:08:23 -0700
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT/URGENT


NATWEST BANK PLC,
10 Southwark Street,
London Bridge, London - UK
SE1 1TT
RC: 121878
Our Ref:
NTB/WESTMIN/INTER-07
Your Ref.......
Date:
06/09/08

Attn:

Dear Friend,

This is to notify you about the status of your funds right now in our desk.
After due vetting and evaluation of your contract file, which The Ministry
of Finance of Federal Republic of Nigeria forwarded and contracted us to see
to your immediate payment.
>From our findings, you have been going through hard ways by paying a lot of
charges to see to the release of your fund, which has been delayed. Please,
from now henceforth stop further communication with any correspondence from
Nigeria.

You are not to pay any charges to receive your contract funds anymore as you
have meet up with the whole requirements. Your representatives in Nigeria
will tell you to still go ahead with them but on your own risk.

The only thing required from you is to forward your Non-Resident
Clearance certificate/Receipt to this office. The Government of Nigeria has
paid us for handling/processing of your payment with other
Contractors,Inheritance and Lottery Winners. As soon as we receive the above
document, We shall effect your payment immediately.

Will you follow our directives, your funds will reflect in your account
within seven working days from the date we receive it. Do not respond to any
correspondence again but only to this Bank, if you're the real beneficiary.

Congratulations in advance.

Dr. James Martins
Payment Coordinator
Natwest Bank Plc.
London U.K

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam