419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
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.
- +2349091650776 (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.
- ih5701@yahoo.com.vn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Christopher Adams" <ih5701@yahoo.com.vn>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:58:55 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Give me a Call as soon as you receive this message/ reply. 22nd
October 2014

Â From: Mr. Christopher Adams.
Plot 14 Bp 1210 Islands
Tel: +234-9091650776.
E-mail: ih5701@yahoo.com.vn

With due respect, I am Mr. Christopher Adams, Working in department of Fund released Order. Iâ€™m here to solicit your Trust/Co-operation to claim the sum,US$18.750M (EighteenÂ MillionÂ Seven Hundred & Fifty Thousand United Stated Dollars) belonging to a contractor (Mr. Al Hussain) who died with his entire family in an Earthquake disaster in Bam, South eastern city of Iran.

Mr. Al Hussain executed a contract through Federal Ministry of Works & Housing (FMWH) here, the contract worth of (US$18.750M) but on the process of transferring the money to him, he died with his family in an earthquake disaster that occurred in Iran. Please check on this link for your verification

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3350195.stm).

Meanwhile, his money has been approved for payment in my office awaiting for me to give order for the final endorsement of the release of his money.I will be presenting you to the ministry as the late contractor business associate to be able to receive this fund and then both parties can share the money according to any agreeable sharing ratio, since we have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives. I will send to you the whole relevant information that is required of you to know in this transaction immediately you accept to co-operate with me.

Send to me the following:
1. Your complete names/residential address.
2.private phone numbers.

I have decided to go into negotiation with you base on sharing ratio of this money, but both of us need to bear in mind that 10% of this money will go for Homeless in your country or mine.

Waiting for your urgent reply.

Yours truly,

Mr. Christopher Adams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam