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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.
  • willi_chidi@yahoo.com
  • will_chidi@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "WILLIAMS CHIDI" <willi_chidi@terra.com.mx> (may be fake)
Reply-To: willi_chidi@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 05:20:12 -0700
Subject: A RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON OR A REPUTALE COMPANY

NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION FALOMO OFFICE
COMPLEX, IKOYI, P.M.B. 1270I, LAGOS
>From the desk of: Dr,WILLIAMS CHIDI. B,sc. (UNN) M.sc.Ph.D:MNIM: MCIA
MANAGER 11, BUDGET AND PLANNING
THE PRESIDENT/CEO
DEAR, FRIEND
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 -willi_chidi@yahoo.com AND ALSO SAND YOUR TELEPHONO AND FAX ONLY YOUR RESPONSE SO WE CAN ADVICE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF THETRANSACTION.
AGAIN THE EMIL- will_chidi@yahoo.com
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
Dr, WILLIAMS CHIDI.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam