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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • jsony1970@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: JEFF <jsony1970@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:03:46 +0200
Subject: YOUR HELP IS NEEDED.


DEAR FRIEND,
I AM ALAHAJI JUBRIL OF THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF
NIGERIA.
I WOULD LIKE THIS INFORMATION TO BE TREATED SECRETLY AND IF YOU ARE NOT
INTRESTED JUST LET ME KNOW SO I CAN ASK SOMEONE ESLE. YOU CAN SEND ME
AM EMAIL AT jsony1970@yahoo.com
MAY BE YOU MUST HAVE HEARD OF A NIGERIA GOVERNOR THAT WAS ARRESTED IN
LONDON. IT IS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO DO IT ALONE THAT IS WHY HE GOT
HIMSELF INTO TRUOBLE. I GARANTE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEM IF YOU
HELP US.
THERE IS AN AMOUNT OF MONEY IN AN ACCOUNT 6,000,000 USD (SIX MILLION
DOLLARS) THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE USE FOR A STATE PROJECT THAT IS THERE
AND NOBODY KNOW EXCEPT ME AND MY BOSS KNOWS.
THERE ARE MORE OF THIS KIND OF MONEY THAT THE GOVERNORS ARE TAKING DUE
TO THE HIGH PRICE OF CRUDE OIL AND SOME ARE FORGETTEN.
SO LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE INTRESTED SO I CAN TELL YOU THE TERMS OF
AGREEMENT ALL WE NEED FROM YOU IS AN EMPTY BANK ACCOUNT THAT WE CAN
TRANSFAR THE MONEY TO.
FOR PROOF THIS IS A NEWSPAPER REPORT ON THE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY MORE
OF THIS KIND OF REPORT.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam