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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348033905545 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Tony" <marktony01@msn.com>
Reply-To: marktony005@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2006 17:38:40 +0000
Subject: Urgent Assistance.

From: Mark Tonye Chambers,
23 Olufemi crescent, Victoria Island Lagos
Nigeria,
Phone: +234-80-33905545
Fax: +234-1-5233601

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue
if it’s nature as being
utterly CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know that a transaction of
this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring
you that all will be well at the end of the day. We have decided to contact
you due to the urgency of this transaction, as we have been reliably
informed of your discreteness and ability in transactions of this nature.
Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you.


I am Mr. Mark Tonye, an Attorney and l came to know of you in my private
search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential
transaction which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign
account requiring maximum confidence.THE PROPOSITION: A foreigner, Late
Engineer Gerlad Welsh, an Gold Merchant/oil broker was my client until his
death in a ghastly air crash, banked with Union Bank Nigeria Plc and had a
closing balance of US$12.5M (Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars) which the bank now unquestionably expects it to be claimed
by any available foreign next-of-kin of the Late beneficiary or
alternatively be forfeited to the government.


Fervent valuable efforts are being made by the Bank to get in touch with any
of the Welsh family or relatives but proved unsuccessful. It is because of
the inability to locate any of Late Gerlad Welsh's next-of-kin (he died with
his wife and only daughter) that the management under the influence of our
chairman and member of the board of directors are preparing for the fund to
be declared "UNCLAIMABLE" and subsequently be to government. In order to
avert this negative development, I now seek your permission to have you
stand as a next-of-kin to Late Gerald Welsh so that the funds US$12.5M would
be released and paid into your bank account as the beneficiary next-of-kin.

All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully
worked out and more so we are assuring you of a 100% risk free involvement.
You shall be compensated with 30% of the money for standing in as the
beneficiary of the funds and 70% to me the originator of the transaction. If
this proposal is OK by you and you do not wish to take undue advantage of
the trust, we hope to bestow on you and your company, then kindly get to me
immediately. I will like you to furnish me with your most confidential
telephone, fax number for further information on the release and subsequent
transfer of the funds in your favour.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated
Co-operation.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Mark Tonye.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam