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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:
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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:
  • "million 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 next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +2348050218908 (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.
  • david_j1955@yahoo.com.vn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?David=20Johnson?= <david_j1955@yahoo.com.vn>
Reply-To: david_j1930@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 16:16:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I seek your consent...reply...


Tôi có thư mới!Bây giờ bạn có thể gửi thư điện tử cho tôi tại: david_j1955@yahoo.com.vn

Sir / Madam,


I am sorry for contacting you through this medium without a previous notice, I had to use the E-mail because it is the only way of making contact with you as i don't have your direct phone number.


My name is David Johnson a 45 (Forty Five) year old Attorney currently practicing in Nigeria. I had a client, an Engineer working with the Shell Development Company based in Niger Delta of Nigeria now deceased. My client lost his life alongside his wife and onl y child in porthacourt in a car crash on the 13th February 2002. I need your assistance to repatriate the sum of $14.5 Million united states dollars which my Deceased Client left behind in a Finance Company due to be transfered to your country before his death. The Account containing this fund has been dormant since his demise and the Finance Company is threatening to confiscate the fund as "Unclaimed Deposit". Rather leaving the fund confiscated; based on you share the same last name with my Deceased Client I seek your consent and assistance to nominate you as my Deceased Client's Relation under legal process and risk free to repatriate the fund as I have the Jurisdiction as the Deceased's attorney to testify the Deceased's Relation. Also I have with me the original copies of the death and deposit certificate to complete the transaction. What I require from you is your willingness to assist me and to treat the transaction as confidential. I shall rather have you participate than not.


Contact me for further information and commencement of the transaction.


Regards


David Johnson




DAVID JOHNSON & ASSOCIATE

NO 14B ALAN AVE, VITORIA ISLAND, LAGOS, NIGERIA. Tel: +234-8050218908. Principal Partner: PETER BOYD Esq. Legal Practitioners: MRS. M. T. GOODYEAR, CHRIS UBA, ANGELA OSHEA Esq., T. MABOHO Esq., IAN CHESNEY Esq.

- David Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam