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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Tafa Balogun Jr" <tafajr@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 11:23:02 +0000
Subject: SOS, PLS.

TAFA BALOGUN JR.
FHQ,LAGOS, NIGERIA,
REPLY VIA:

DEAR FRIEND,

I HOPE THIS MAIL REACHES YOU IN GOOD HEALTH AND SOUND STATE OF
MIND. I AM MR.TAFA BALOGUN JR. SON OF THE RETIRED POLICE CHIEF
OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. PRESENTLY MY DAD IS EMBROILED
IN SOME CONTROVERSIES WITH THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF MY COUNTRY
WHICH HAS LED TO THE FREEZING OF ALL HIS KNOWN ACCOUNT WITHIN
AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY AND CORRUPTION CHARGES LEVELLED AGAINST HIM.

HOWEVER, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY DAD IS INNOCENT OF ALL ALLEGATIONS
OF CORRUPTION. HE HAS BEEN A FINE OFFICER WHO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF
MERITORIOUSLY AND HAS DISCHARGED HIS DUTIES CREDITABLY WELL. THESE FACTS
CAN BE ATTESTED TO BY MANY AWARDS BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY WHICH
HE HAS WON IN THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS OF SERVICES TO HIS FATHER LAND.
WE SEE THE PRESENT EXERCISE BY THE PRESENT CIVILIAN REGIME AS
VICTIMIZATION BECAUSE OF THE VIEWS HE HAS FREELY EXPRESSED.

RIGHT NOW ALL OUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN SEIZED SO
THAT NO MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IS ABLE TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE
COUNTRY. MY DAD HAS ALSO BEEN PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST.
THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE NOW IS THE TWELVE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS {$12.5M} CONCEALED AND DEPOSITED WITH A
SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN NIGERIA. THIS COMPANY ALSO HAS THEIR
BRANCHES IN EUROPE, AMERICA AND ASIA.

IT MAY ALSO INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT MY FATHER GOT THIS MONEY FROM
GRATIFICATION HE RECEIVED FROM SOME OIL COMPANIES (SHELL,
CHEVRON,AGIP AND MOBIL) FOR PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THEIR
INSTALLATIONS DURING THE PERIOD OF YOUTH RESTIVENESS IN THE
OIL RICH NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA IN HIS CAPACITY AS
THE POLICE CHIEF.

NOW HE WANTS THIS FUND TO BE MOVED OVERSEAS AND THIS IS WHY
YOU ARE BEING CONTACTED. YOU WILL BE ADEQUATELY
COMPENSATED WHEN THIS FUND IS SUCCESSFULLY MOVED. AS SOON AS
YOU INDICATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST US, FURTHER DETAILS
WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. YOU HAVE TO SEND TO ME YOUR FULL NAMES
AND ADDRESS, AND YOUR PHONE NUMBER WHERE THE CONSULTANT WHO
WILL HANDLE ALL THE PAPER WORKS WILL BE ABLE TO REACH YOU.
YOU CAN CALL OR MAIL HIM IMMEDIATELY FOR MORE DETAILS.

IT IS ALSO PERTINENT AT THIS POINT TO LET YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO KEEP THIS MATTER SECRET TO YOURSELF
UNTIL THIS FUND IS FINALLY MOVED FROM NIGERIA.

WE WILL APPRECIATE YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE TO MY DAD WHO IS BEING
WRONGLY PERSECUTED FOR HIS BELIEF AND TO OUR FAMILY WHO'S LAST HOPE
OF SURVIVAL DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS TRANSACTION.

REGARDS,
TAFA BALOGUN JR.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam