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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)
• 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.
  • jerr4ef@yahoo.com
  • jerr4ef@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "JERRY EFE" <jerry_efe@ny.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jerr4ef@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 8 Oct 2005 19:11:54 -0700
Subject: REPLY IF ONLY YOU ARE INTERESTED.





NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION FALOMO OFFICE
COMPLEX, IKOYI, P.M.B. 1270I, LAGOS
>From the desk of:DR. JERRY EFE. B,sc. (UNN) M.sc.
Ph.D:MNIM: MCIA
MANAGER 11, BUDGET AND PLANNING


THE PRESIDENT/CEO

DEAR SIR,

WE ARE SENDING THIS LETTER TO YOU BASED ON INFORMATION
GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. WE BELIEVE THAT YOU
WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO HELP US IN OUR BID TO
TRANSFER THE SUM OF TWENTY-ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($21.5M USD) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND
PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM, THIS COMMITTEE
IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND
APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS. WITH OUR POSITIONS, WE HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OURSELVES THE SUM OF
TWENTY-ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS(US$21.5M). THIS AMOUNT WAS ACCUMULATED
THROUGH UNDECLARED WINDFALL FROM SALES OF CRUDE OIL
DURING THE GULF WAR.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ACCOUNT
INTO WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED SINCE
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY OUR LAWS TO
OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT. IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE
OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH US$5
MILLION OF THE REMITTED FUNDS, WE KEEP US$15 MILLION
WHILE US$1.5 MILLION WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET
EXPENSES AND PAY THE NECESSARY TAXES.

WE NEED A RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON OR A
REPUTABLE COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH HENCE THIS
LETTER TO YOU, SO IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE
TRUSTED AND INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL THEN WE ARE
PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. WHAT WE WANT FROM
YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL LET US HAVE OUR
SHARE WHEN THIS AMOUNT OF US$21.5M IS TRANSFERRED INTO
YOUR ACCOUNT.

IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE WRITE ON THIS
EMAIL address jerr4ef@yahoo.com AND ALSO SEND YOUR TELEPHONO
AND FAX ONLY YOUR RESPONSE SO WE CAN ADVICE YOU ON THE
MODALITIES OF THE TRANSACTION.
AGAIN THE EMAIL-jerr4ef@yahoo.com
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR. JERRY EFE



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam