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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:

• 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:
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • +2348098343529 (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.
  • mrtonyadams@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Tony=20Adams?= <tonyadams56793@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: mrtonyadams@sify.com
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:29:41 +0530 (IST)
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: tonyadams56793@yahoo.in



- FROM: MR.TONY ADAMS 5TH FLOOR, ANNEX 3,NEW FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX,LAGOS NIGERIA.TEL:+234-8098343529 (24 HRS)ATTN: BENEFICIARY,MY NAME IS MR. TONY ADAMS. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF WIRE TRANSFER/TELEX DEPARTMENT OF UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA NIGERIA,AFTER A SERIOUS THOUGHT,I DECIDED TO REACH YOU DIRECTLY AND PERSONALLY BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE ANY THING AGAINST YOU,PLEASE CONFIRM URGENTLY TO US IF ACTUALLY YOU KNOW ONE PATEL RUBBY WHO CLAIM TO BE YOUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATE/ PARTNER IN NIGERIA .THE SAID MR. PATEL RUBBY IS CLAIMING TO US THAT YOU ARE DEAD AND HE WILL LIKE TO CHANGE ALL THE INFORMATIONS THAT YOU GAVE TO US AS OUR BONAFIDE BENEFICIARY TO RECEIVE YOUR OUT=STANDING PAYMENT OF $18 MILLION DOLLARS .THIS DEVELOPMENT IS COMING NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ,WANT TO OFFSET ALL THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS TO ALL OUR LEGAL FOREIGN BENEFICIARIES ARROUND THE WORLD IN YOUR PAYMENT FILE WAS AFFECTED.AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN YOUR FAVOUR IS A TOTAL SUM OF $18!
MILLION DOLLARS.WE NEED TO CONFIRM FROM YOU IF IT'S REALLY TRUE THAT YOU ARE DEAD AND DIRECTED MR. PATEL RUBBY TO CLAIM THIS SAID AMOUNT ON YOUR BEHALF AND IF WE DID NOT HEAR FROM YOU IT AUTOMATICALLY MEANS THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY DEAD AND THE INFORMATION PASSED TO US BY MR. PATEL RUBBY IS CORRECT.YOU ARE TO CONTACT ME THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:mrtonyadams@sify.com AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE SO AS TO KNOW THE TRUE POSITION OF THINGS WITH YOU SO THAT WE WOULD NOT MAKE ANY MISTAKE IN REMITTING YOUR OUT-STANDING PAYMENT TO A WRONG PERSON/ACCOUNT.YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE WILL HELP THIS OFFICE ALOT .DO EMAIL ME WITH YOUR INFORMATIONS IF REALLY YOU ARE ALIVE AND NEED TO CLAIM YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT .(1) YOUR FULL NAMES (2)YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBERS/FAX FOR AN EASY COMMUNICATION,(3)YOUR AGE(5)YOUR OCCUPATION.FINALLY BE INFORMED THAT ON RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE INFORMATIONS,IT WILL ENABLE ME RELEASE YOUR PAYMENT TO YOU.BEST REGARDS.MR. TONY ADAMS,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam