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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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.
  • albert_yng@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "al_young2" <al_young2@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 18:55:35 -0600
Subject: DEAR SIR


DEAR SIR/MADAM,
I AM DR. ALBERT YOUNG, CHAIRMAN,CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE IN THE
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE HEADQUARTERS, LAGOS NIGERIA
I AM IN NEED OF YOUR GENUINE ASSISTANT AND TRUST BECAUSE AS A
TOP OFFICIAL OF THE RULING GORVERNMENT,
I WANT TO SAFE GUARD MY INTEREST IN YOUR COUNTRY BEFORE THE END OF
THE TENURE OF THIS ADMINITRATION.
MORE ALSO AS CIVIL SERVANT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OWN OR OPERATE
FOREIGN ACCOUNT, HENCE A FOREIGNER IS NEEDED IN THIS TRANSACTION.
I PRESENTLY HAVE AN OVER INVOICED CONTRACT PAYMENT OF
USD38.5M(THIRTY-EIGHT MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLAR) CORNERED FROM A JOB AWARDED BY MY
MINISTRY,WHICH HAS REMAIN UNCLAIMED SINCE 2002,
MY SUPERIOR IN THE PRESIDENCY HAVE MANDATED ME TO PRESENT A HONEST
FOREIGNER WHO CAN CONVENIENTLY PROTECT THIS FUND FOR US IN HIS
COUNTRY'S BANK ACCOUNT.
I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO US
HENCE I AM CONTACTING YOU AND ALSO REQUESTING FOR YOUR
DISCRETION,MATURITY AND CO-OPERATION.MY SUPERIOR HAS COMPLETED ALL
ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS TO SEE THAT THIS FUND RECEIVES ALL THE
REQUESTED APPROVALS IMMEDIATELY YOU GIVE ME THE GO AHEAD.
ALL I NEED FROM YOU ARE THE FOLLOWING:
(1) YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS.THIS WILL ENABLE ME MAKE JOB
DESCRIPTION TO THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IN YOUR FAVOUR
AS A CONTRACTOR
{2}NAMES OF THE NOMINATED BANK,ACCOUNT NOS,TEL.AND FAX NOS
RESPECTIVELY WHERE THE FUND WILL BE TRANSFERED TO
(2) YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US.
PLEASE SEND YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL BOX
albert_yng@myway.com TO ENABLE ME GIVE YOU FURTHER BRIEFINGS.
THIS TRANSACTION IS HITCH-FREE, SO YOU NEED NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR.
AWAITING YOUR MAIL
BEST REGARDS,
DR. ALBERT YOUNG

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam