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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • +2348022740139 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "james1960" <james1960@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:59:29 -0600
Subject: YOUR ATTENTION IS NEEDED


FROM THE DESK OF
Mr James Morris
BRANCH MANAGER,
UNITED BANK OF AFRICA PLC,
LAGOS - NIGERIA.
ATTENTION:

I am Mr James Morris, branch manager with
united bank of africa Plc, Lagos, Nigeria.
There is an account operated in my branch by the
recent late First Lady of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, who died a few
days ago (October 22, 2005) during an operation in
a hospital in Spain. Chief Mrs. Stella Obasanjo was
running this account secretly with my support and
co-operation without declaring any next of kin or
relations in all her official documents including her
bank deposit paperwork in my bank. She made a numbered
time fixed deposit for two years when she first opened
this account valued at US$25m (Twenty Five Million
United States Dollars only) in my branch. It will be
in my interest to transfer this funds worth 25,000,000
(Million) United States Dollars in an account offshore.
If you can be a collaborator/partner to this, please
indicate interest immediately for us to proceed. We
have unanimously agreed that 20% of the entire sum
would be for you for your co-operation and assistance
in this profitable transaction.
Remember this is absolutely confidential. I am
seeking your assistance to represent as the
beneficiary of this unclaimed funds since we are
not allowed to operate a foreign account. I want to
reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will
not disappoint me.

you can call me on my private cellephone number for easy communication
Tel;+2348022740139


My Regards,
Mr James Morris

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam