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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
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• 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:
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "paul freeman" <p_freeman24@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: pfreeman4@latinmail.com
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 17:44:19 -0500
Subject: ATTN:WOUTERS

FROM:

SIR PAUL FREEMAN
FINANCE HEAD,FEDERAL MINISTRY
OF FINANCE LAGOS,NIGERIA
OFFICE: ROOM 254 OFFICE COMPLEX
PHONE: +234-80239-2125

DATE:04-02-06

ATTN:WOUTERS

THIS LETTER COMES TO YOU BELIEVING THAT AS LONG AS YOU SHARE THE SAME NAME
AND NATIONALITY WITH OUR LATE CONTRACTOR MR JOHN WOUTERS, AND GOING BY HIS
WILL WHICH WAS READ ON THE FLOOR OF THE HIGH COURT THREE MONTHS AGO WHICH
CLEARLY STATES THAT IN THE ABSCENT OF ANY MEMBER OF HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY,
ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE WOUTERS FAMILY IS ENTITLED TO INHERIT HIS
WEALTH/LEGACY HENCE WE CONTACT YOU.

BASED ON THE ABOVE ASCERTION,WE WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT SINCE THE UNTIMELY
DEATH OF OUR BELOVED CONTRACTOR NINE MONTHS AGO INVOLVING HIM, HIS WIFE AND
THEIR ONLY DAUGTHER,NO ONE HAS SHOWN UP TO COLLECT HIS OUT STANDING $7
MILLION DOLLARS BEIGN MONEY OWED HIM FOR A COMPLETED CONTRACT HE EXECUTED
OF WHICH THE MINISTRY HAS APPROVED FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A DRAFT OR A
CASHIER'S CHEQUE TO THAT RESPECT.

I AM THEREFORE DIRECTED BY THE MINISTER TO CONTACT YOU BELIEVING THAT YOU
ARE LEGALY EMPOWERED TO BE HIS NEXT OF KIN AS INDICATED BY HIS WILL AND
CONSENTED BY THE LAW OF NIGERIA. YOU ARE THEREFORE CALLED UPON TO APPEAR
BEFORE THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE FOR THE SIGNING AND
COLLECTION OF THE DRAFT/CHEQUE.

WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU ON YOUR PLANS AND ARRANGEMENT TOWARDS THE SIGNING
AND COLLECTION OF THE DRAFT/CHEQUE.

CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE"

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
SIR PAUL FREEMAN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam