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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:
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • renceward2005@yahoo.co.uk
  • renceward2005@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: lawrence edward <lawrenceward3@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:35:03 -0800
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP.


N.B.REPLY ME VIA MY PRIVATE EMAIL(renceward2005@yahoo.co.uk)

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I AM LAWRENCE EDWARD.THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE MR AND MRS.PETER
EDWARD.MYFATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN CALABAR,
THE ECONOMIC
CAPITAL OF CROSS RIVER,NIGERIA BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS
BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS.WHEN MY
MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1984, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE I
AM MOTHERLESS.BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH JUNE 2002 IN A PRIVATE
HOSPITAL HERE IN NIGERIA. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME
THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$12.5,000,000 (TWELVE MILLION FIVE HUNDERD UNITED
STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN AN ACCOUNT IN A LOCAL BANK HERE IN NIGERIA, THAT HE
USED MY NAME AS HIS ONLY SON FOR THE NEXT OF KIN IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND. HE
ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED
BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A
COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR
INVESTMENT PURPOSE, (SUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT).SIR, I AM HONOURABLY
SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.
1)TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO
2)TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM A BOY OF 21 YEARS
3)TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY AFTER THE MONEY
HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED.
MOREOVER, SIR, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 25% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS
COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS
FUND TO YOUR NORMINATED ACCOUNT OVERSEAS AND 5% FOR RUNNING COST AND THE
REMAINING FOR ME.
ANTICIPATING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS
LAWRENCE EDWARD.
N.B.REPLY ME VIA MY PRIVATE EMAIL(renceward2005@yahoo.co.uk)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam