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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:
  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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • gyousuf2704@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "gabriel yousuf" <gyousuf2704@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: gyousuf2704@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 10:43:25 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

FROM THE DESK OF:DR.GABRIEL YOUSUF.
DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES, LAGOS.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

DEAR FRIEND,

TRANSFER OF US$25.5 MILLION INTO A PERSONAL/COMPANY'S
OFFSHORE ACCOUNT .

Based on the information gathered from the Ministry of
Trade and Industry,we
intend to solicit your assistance on this transaction with
you on the
assumption that you will not disappoint us.
We have TWENTY Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars
(US$25,500,000.00) which we made over time from over
inflated contracts
in my Ministry (Federal Ministry of Health and Social
Services).
We are seeking your assistance and permission to remit this
amount into your
account or any other nominated account you can provide for
us.
Your commission will be 20% of the total sum, 10% for
expenses and the
remaining 70% is for my colleagues and myself.
Could you please notify me of your acceptance to carry out
this transaction
urgently by e-mail only on the receipt of this message.
Kindly, acknowledge the receipt of this letter by sending
to me by email a copy
of this letter with your private Tel. And Fax number
Through my email address:david gyousuf2704@yahoo.com
I shall in turn inform you of the modalities for a formal
application to secure the necessary approvals for the immediate release of
this
fund into your account.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Yours Faithfully,
DR.Gabriel Yousuf.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam