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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.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +2347028792857

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:17:07 +0000
Subject: GREETINGS MY DEAR FRIEND




Dr Elivies GoodLuck
Chairman Tender Board
Independent Power Project Commission




GREETINGS MY DEAR FRIEND,
FUNDS FOR INVESTMENTS.

THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE I HAVE NO PREVIOUS
CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOU.I AM DR ELVIES GOODLUCK,BROTHER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND THE CHAIRMAN TENDER BOARD OF THE
INDEPENDENT POWER PROJECT COMMISSION (IPPC).I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN THE COURSE OF
MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE PERSON WITH WHOM TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL
TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF FUND VALUED AT FIFTEEN MILLION, UNITED
STATES DOLLARS (US$15M) TO A SAFE FOREIG ACCOUNT.

THE ABOVE FUND IN QUESTION IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ARMS, DRUGS OR MONEY
LAUNDERING. IT IS A PRODUCT OF OVER INVOICED CONTRACT AWARDED IN 2002 BY IPPC TO
A FOREIGN COMPANY FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTTHAT WHERE USED FOR
BUILDING TERMAL STATIONS AT SAGBAMA AREA OF BAYESA STATE IN 2002 .THE CONTRACT
HAS LONG BEEN EXECUTED AND PAYMENT OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT MADE TO THE
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR ROYAL METROPOLITAN CONSULT INC; THEREBY LEAVING THE BALANCE
OF US$15 MILLION IN A DORMANT ACCOUNT WHICH MY COLLEAGUE AND I NOW WANT TO
TRANSFER OUT OF OUR COUNTRY INTO A RELIABLE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR OUR PERSONAL
USE.

AS CIVIL SERVANTS WE DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY FOREIGN ACCOUNT MACHINERY TO
SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION THEREFORE IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO SOURCE
FOR A FOREIGN COMPANY WITH THE CAPABILITY TO ACT AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OF
THE CONTRACT.

IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ENDORSED THE RESOLUTION PASSD BY THE
SENATE THAT ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTORS OWED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA BE
PAID, WE WILL SEIZE THIS GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SURPORT YOU AS ONE OF THE
BENEFICIARIES TO BE PAID.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL KINDLY GET BACK TO ME BY SENDING A
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE ALONG WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.MEANWHILE,
MY COLLEAGUE AND I HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THE MONEY IN THE FOLLOWING RATIO: 70%
FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND I,THEN 30% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER.FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT
THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE.THIS
TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND RISK FREE.

NOTE ALSO THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION
AND THIS TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 15 WORKING DAYS SINCE
ALL LOCAL CONTACTS AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPERLY PERFECTED FOR A SMOOTH
AND SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION, GET BACK TO ME ON MY Private
email:(auditor_usa@live.com ) +234-7028792857

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.
ELVIES GOODLUCK
IPPC

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam