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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • usoro.directorgeneral@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Usoro Usoro <dg.usoro18@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <usoro.directorgeneral@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:11:07 +0000
Subject: Reward for your assistance




Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
No. 4, BURMA ROAD APAPA – LAGOS .
From the desk of the Director General: Mrs Mfom Ekong Usoro

Sir/Madam,
Urgent Business Proposal to the tune of $10.5Million
It is of utmost urgency that I am contacting you through this avenue. I have been compelled to expedite action in securing a foreign partner in a business transaction worth over $10.5Million United States Dollars. I do hope you are a very reliable person and you are willing to be part of this. I hope to here from you in the shortest possible time.
If you are interested, simply e-mail me your personal company’s contact address, telephone, fax, and mobile phone numbers. If you do not own a company, then email me your personal contact details. Also, I would also need a brief explanation of the functions of your company or your type of business and what possible investment opportunities are evident in your country.
Please ensure that you get back to me via my email: usoro.directorgeneral@yahoo.co.uk and I will engage you in a telephone conversation for a more precise update on the transaction. Please note that this is not an official correspondence and I am contacting you as my humble self and not the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
You stand to get 30% of this sum at the conclussion of the transaction. The transaction will take less than 14 working days and we need to commence immediately. Please take note that this transaction should be kept confidential.

Thank You.
Mrs Mfom Ekong Usoro
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam