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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.

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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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • ukah_777@yahoo.com
  • stevukah771@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Stephen=20Ukah?= <ukah_777@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: stevukah771@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:25:50 -0800 (PST)
Subject: maximum co-operation


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: ukah_777@yahoo.com



- From The Desk Of Mr.Stephen Ukah.Auditing And Accounting Unit.Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.Lagos, Nigeria.Dear friend,I am Mr Stephen Ukah,the Auditing and Accounting Unit,Foreign Operations Department Union Bank Plc. I have an urgent and confidential business proposal for you.On June 6th,(Engr.Steve Moore) made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calenderer month valued at US$15.500.000.00(Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand (US Dollars) in my branch. On maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarded address but got no reply after months we send a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employee (Nigeria national petroleum Corporation) that Late Engr.Steve Moore died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, it was clear that he died without making a will. All attempts by the Australian to trace his next of kin were fruitless.I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Late(Engr.Steve Moore) did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents including his deposit document in my bank. The total sum of US$15,500,000.00 is still in my bank as dormant acct. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian banking law, after four years,the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government. If the account owner is certified death and nobody comes forward to claim it this money will be claimed by (corrupt government officials).This is the situation,and my proposal to you is that you will stand in as the (beneficiary/next of kin). This is simple. All you have to do is to immediately send me the details of a bank account anywhere in the world for me to arrange the proper money transfer document. The money will then be transferred into the account for us to share in the ration of 60% for me 40% for you.There is no risk involved. I am using my position and connection in the bank here to do all the inside work for this transaction. This transaction is 100% risk free guaranteed.If you are interested, reply with immediate confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction could be most profitable for both of us. Do not expose this deal if you are not interested because if you do,it will take me out ofseat.I am awaiting your urgent reply for more details you are advice to get back to me on my private E-mail:-(stevukah771@gmail.com)Thanks for your maximum co-operation,Best Regards,Mr.Stephen Ukah.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam