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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
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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Micheal Williams" <micheal_williams777@msn.com>
Reply-To: dr_michael_williams777@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 16:25:59 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY SIR/MADAM

DR MICHEAL WILLIAMS
NO 149 DUNCAN AVNUE
VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS
NIGERIA.

DEAR FRIEND,

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.I AM
DR MICHEAL WILLIAMS, I WORK IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ,PACKAGING AND
COURIER DEPARTMENT BEFORE I GET STROKE DURING THE NIGERIA BOMB BLAST WHICH
CAME UP TWO YEARS AGO,ALSO IT WAS DURING THIS BOMB BLAST I LOST MY DARLING
WIFE WITH TWO CHILDREN REMAIN ONE SON IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS SON I WANT TO
TRANSFER FUNDS. BECAUSE OF THIS I WAS RESIGN BY THE BANK FOR A TREATMENT
WHICH I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY.DURING THIS MY SERVICE IN OFFICE I WAS
ABLE MANAGE THIS FUNDS THROUGH DIPLOAMTIC.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE CENTRAL BANK WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU.I
WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR A PACKAGE WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH THE UNITED
NATIONS DIPLOMATIC COURIER AGENT ATTACHED TO CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, AND IT
WAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN LONDON NAME (WITHHELD) UNTIL I HEAR FROM YOU. THE
CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE IS US$11M( ELEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) ALL
IN $100 BILLS, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I
HAVE IN THE PACKAGE.

ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS THIS GIVE ME-
YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX
YOUR MILLIN ADRESS.
A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIOAL PASSPORT

HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY , YOU WILL HAVE 25% AND 75% WILL BE FOR ME .
MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANYBODY . IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY
YOU. OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME
INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES TO YOU.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR MICHEAL WILLIAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam