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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
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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:
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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 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.
  • samabebe555@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "sam Abebe" <abebe737@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 11:34:09 +0000
Subject: Hello.

Mr. Sam Abebe.

Lagos,Nigeria.



E-MAIL: samabebe555@yahoo.com




Hello,



Investment Relationship



I head a 7-man contract award panel with the Pipelines and Products
Marketing Company (PPMC). We are charged with the responsibility of vetting,
evaluating and approving for payments contract and services executed . I
came to know of you in my search for a reliable and reputable person to
handle a very confidential transaction which involves the transfer of funds
to a foreing account.


In the year 2000, we awarded some contracts to some multinational companies
and we deliberately inflated the contract sum to the tune of $14.3million
and the beneficiary of this sum is a company registered here in Nigeria,
which we positioned as a sub-contractor to the multinational companies. Now
this sum($14.3Million) was recently approved for payment, since we do not
have a foreing account into which this funds can be paid, hence we need you
to do this for us.


Modalities have been worked out at all levels to facilitate the release of
the funds within 6-7working days. We have agreed to give you 20% of the
total sum for your effort, while 10% had been set aside for all incidental
expenses and the balance for us.



Lastly, kindly treat this as highly confidential, as i am averse to denting
my image and reputation. My assurance to you, is that this transaction is
100% risk free to all parties, so kindly put your mind at rest. .I await
your response so I can give you more details.



Thank you.



Mr. Sam Abebe.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam