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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:
  • "levy " (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. )
  • "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +2348039196039 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Mr=20Musa=20Bello?= <mrmusa_bello@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: ubnplcprivate_md@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:47:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONFIDANT VERY URGENT.PLS


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:mrmusa_bello@yahoo.com.co



- HEAD OFFICE falomo plot 96/97 broad street p.o.box 28933 lagos nigeriaTele:+234-8039196039 My Dear Confidant,My name is Mr. Musa Bello I work as the Regional Manager of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. With operational office at Falomo, Lagos- Nigeria.I am 45years of age with three kids. I have packaged transaction that will be of mutual benefit to both of us.As the Regional Manager of union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Falomo, it is my duty to send financial report to the Head office at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. During the second quarter financial report ending June, 2007, I discovered that one of the branches under my portfolio failed to detect the sum of US$10.5milliion (Ten million, five hundred United States Dollars) accruing to the Inland Revenue Services (IRS). The renowned official auditors did not it so I moved the funds into an Escrow call account with no specific beneficiary attached.Meanwhile, and for obvious reasons, I cannot be directly connected to this money but I can levy claim to it with help from outside. This is my reason for contacting you to assist by receiving the funds into your bank account in your country. This is very possible provided you liaise properly with me. At the end of the transaction, you will receive 30% of the total funds as your benefit. The transfer of the money will be made by swift and will be a Bank-to-bank wired transfer.Consequently, all I need from you is to stand- in as the original depositor of this money. I will then compute all your particulars and details as the rightful person who made the deposit initially at my branch so that my Head Office will authorize the immediate transfer of the money to your designated/nominated bank account. For more information on this, please kindly send your reply to my private e-mail box as follows:Email(ubnplcprivate_md@hotmail.com.Yours SincerelyMr Musa Bello

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam