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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • +2348029422336 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • chuba_committee@ny.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Chuba Williams" <chubawilliams@chubachambers.org>
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 22:00:15 +0000
Subject: AFRICAN INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT




AFRICAN INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT
MOTTO-REF: SECURITY WATCH GL-GWAS-0-31
ADDRESS; PLOT 158 MARTINS WAY, VICTORIA
ISLAND,TEL: +2348029422336
Personal E-mail chuba_committee@ny.com

Attention Dear Beneficiary,

From the records of outstanding payment with the federal Government of Nigeria, your name and company was on the list amongst the outstanding beneficiary’s that are yet to receive their payments. I wish to inform you that your payment has being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Please re-confirm to me if this is Online with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me the followings:
(1) Your full name.
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company's name,position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.

Based on the finding in this investigation Department we wish to warn you against some impostors. We have been informed that some impostors are contacting people in Respect to the collection of their fund that was long approved in their favor. As a matter of fact we have been on this investigation assignment for quite some time cuddly known to no One but the President and some Top Government Officials who Are in support of this investigation team to help stop fraudulent activities in Africa.

We apologize on behalf of the President and the people of Africa for any delay and lost this must have coursed you. We promise that such thing will not happen again, thanks and bear with us as you response quickly to enable commence in your favour.

Yours sincerely,

Agent Chuba william
Head of Investigation Department (AFRICA)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam