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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states 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)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +2348055590267 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: stephen.k@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 13:17:50 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?=20Re=3A=20Payment=20Resolution=2E?=

Dr.Stephen K Green.
Director of Foreign Operations,
ATM Card Dept.
Central Bank of Nigeria
Phone:+234-805-559-0267

Re: Payment Resolution.

This is to inform you that after much verification, we discovered that you
are the bonafide beneficiary of this contract sum. On that note the president
and the senate committee has aproved the sum of US $5 Million Dollars as
part of your contract sum.

Though your fund has been delayed by some unauthorised officials of Central
Bank of Nigeria and some agents you contacted for the release of your contract
fund.This has made it necessary for your payment to be programmed into HSBC
Corporate Visa Card. The total fund in question is Five Million United States
Dollars(US $5 Million Dollars).

Central Bank of Nigeria working relationship with HSBC London has concluded
to issue you a CORPORATE VISA CARD where your payment will be uploaded.
This will now enable you either download your payment at any ATM (Automated
Teller Machine) at your bank.

If you have any question or confused about this write me immediately or
call our office so that I will direct you properly for more details. The
Visa Card Application Form will be sent to you as soon as you acknowledge
the receipt of this message.

Dr.STEPHEN K GREEN
Director, Foreign Operations
ATM Card Dep(CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam