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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "huge deposit" (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 us 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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +2348033151714 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Arnold.U. Datong" <arnold_datong206@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <arnold_datong02@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:24:08 +0100
Subject: Urgently Needed Please



FROM THE DESK OF Mr. Arnold U. Datong (Bsc ,FCA)Spring Bank Plc,Plot 143, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island.Lagos Nigeria,Phone:+234-803-315-1714. Dear Sir / Madam ,My Name is Mr. Arnold U. Datong a senior accountant with the Bank and the account officer to late ENGINEER (Charles Hill), a National of your country, who was a contractor with the DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS. On January 31, 2000 , my client, his wife, and two children were involved in a crash with the Kenya International Airways flight with registration number KQ 431 which departed Nairobi to destination of Lagos. 169 Feared Dead in the Kenya Airways Crash including Charles and family in this fatal air crash on January 31, 2000.Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my client's extended Relatives, which proved unsuccessful till now ,I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where some huge deposits were lodged, particularly at SPRING BANK PLC. The deceased had an account valued at ($15.3 million US Dollars) in this bank. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I hence I contacted you.However, as the ACCOUNTS MANAGER to the deceased, the bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating any of the relatives for some time now, I seek your permition to present you as the next of kin of the deceased.With your co-operation, therefore, the proceeds of this account valued at ($15.3million US Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money in the ratio of 45 % to me and 45% to you while 10% goes for any charity organization of your choice. An attorney will be contracted to help us revalidate and notarize all the necessary legal documents that will be used to back up our claims.All I need is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law. I will appreciate some measure of confidentiality till we finish the transaction, because of my position in the bank. May almighty lord bless you as you offer to assist me over this.Yours Sincerely,Arnold U. Datong.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam