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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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.
  • mrbenamuka@yahoo.es

Fraud email example:

From: "Amuka Ben" <benamuka002@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: benamuka@excite.com
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 06:58:16 +0000
Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR.

DEAR FRIEND,

WE ARE MEMBERS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY
OF PETROLEUM,

THIS COMMITTE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND APPROVAL
OF CONTRACTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS OF THE
FEDERALGOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA. WE ARE SENDING YOU THIS MAIL BASED ON THE
INFORMATION WE GATHERED FROM THE TRADE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE ANDINDUSTRY. WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE IN GOOD POSITION TO HELP
US IN OUR BID TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF TWENTY FOUR MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$24.8) INTO FOREIGN ACCOUNT. WHICH WE
SUCCESSFULLY SECURED WITH OUR POSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT. THIS AMOUNT WAS
ACCUMULATED THROUGH UNDECLARED WINDFALL FROM OIL 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 FOREIGNACCOUNT.

IT HAS BEEN THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH
US$5.160MILLION OF THE TOTAL REMITTED FUNDS, WE KEEP US$19 MILLION FOR OUR
PERSONAL USE, WHILE US$640,000, WILL BE OFFSET FOR ANY EXPENSES AND PAY THE
NECESSARY TAXES. THE FUND, ISPRESENTLY IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT IN THE CENTRAL
BANK OF NIGERIA WAITING FOR CLAIM. SO ONCE WE RECEIVE YOUR EARLIEST RESPOND
WE SHALL PUT IN APPLICATION ON YOUR BEHALF NOTIFYING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT
IT IS YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT AND AS WELL LEGALISE SOME VITAL DOCUMENTS ON
YOUR FAVOUR WITH OUR GOOD POSITION IN GOVERNMENT. AND THE DOCUMENTS WILL BE
SENT TO CENRAL BANK AS PROVE OF OWNERSHIP OF THE SAID FUND.

IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO A SIMILAR TRANSACTION WAS
CARRIED OUT WITH ONE MR. PATRICE MILLER THE PRESIDENT OF CRAINE
INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION AT #135, EAST 57TH STREET, 28TH FLOOR, NEW
YORK. 10022 WITH TELEPHONE (212) 308-7788 AND TELEX # 6731689, AFTER THE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTNERS IN WHICH HE WAS TOTAKE 5%.THE MONEY WAS DULY
TRANSFERRED INTO HIS ACCOUNT ONLY TO BE DISSAPOINTED ON OUR ARRIVAL IN NEW
YORK AS WE WERE RELIABLY INFORMED THAT MR. PATRIC MILLER WAS NO LONGER ON
THAT ADDRESS WHILEHIS TELEPHOE AND TELEX NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REALLOCATED TO
SOMEONE ELSE, THAT IS HOW WE LOST US$27.5MILLION TO MR. PATRICE MILLER.THIS
TIME AROUND WE NEED A MORE RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON OR A REPUTABLE
COMPANY THAT WE CAN AS WELL CONTINUE IN BUSINESS AFTER THIS PRESENT
TRANSACTION, SO IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTED AND INTERESTED IN
THIS DEAL THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU.

AND ALL WE WANT FROM YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL LET US HAVE OUR
SHARE WHEN THIS AMOUNT OF US$24.8MILLION IS TRANFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR RESPONSE SO THAT WE CAN ADVISE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF
THE TRANSACTION. ALL MODALITIES HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AND ONCE STARTED WILL
NOT TAKE MORE THAN 7 WORKING DAYS WITH ABSOLUTE SUPPORT OF ALL CONCERNED.

THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE. WE WISH TO HAVE YOUR DIRECT PHON/FAX NUMBER
FOR EASY COMMUNICATION. PLEASE TREAT THIS MESSAGE WITH UTMOST URGENCY AND
CONFIDENTIALITY,ALSO MAIL YOUR RESPONSE TO MY DIRECT EMAIL AT
(mrbenamuka@yahoo.es) AS STATED ABOVE. FOR CONFIDENTIAL REASONS.

I AWAIT YOUR SATISFACTORY RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY.

YOURS SINCERELY,
DR. BEN AMUKA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam