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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "transferred into your bank account" (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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • mrmichealbeker234@jmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: micheal beker <michealbeler0345@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mrmichealbeker234@jmail.co.za>
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 03:22:17 +0000
Subject: REF: - INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
((US$5Million),



REF: - INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF ((US$5Million),


Attn: Beneficiary,


This is the second time we are notifying you about this said fund. After
due vetting and evaluation of your file that was sent to us by the
Nigerian Government in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and
Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This bank has an
instruction to see to the immediate release of the sum of (US$5Million) of
your claim that has been holding since is transferred into your bank
Account from their Domiciliary Account with this bank. We were meant to
understand from our findings that you have been going through hard ways by
paying a lot of charges to see to the release of your fund (US$5Million),
which has been the handwork of some miscreant elements from that Country.


We advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence from
Nigeria, or anywhere concerning your funds as you have met up with the
whole requirements. We know your representatives in Nigeria or anywhere
will advice you to still go ahead with them, which will be on your own
risk. Your (US$5Million) will reflect in your designated bank account
within five Bank working days. Do not go through anybody again but through
this Bank if you really want your fund. Finally, you are advice to
re-confirm these to us, your Full Name, contact address, occupation,
Telephone and Fax Number for easy communication.


Yours sincerely,


Mr Micheal Beker,

Assistance Secretary,NatWest Bank, London United Kingdom. This my contact
email address (mrmichealbeker234@jmail.co.za)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam