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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:

• 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)

Fraud email example:

From: "David Johnson" <david1924@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 09:44:47 -0700
Subject: Sir / Madam, i seek your consent...


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.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam