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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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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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 us 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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "100% hitch free" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "location where the money will be remmitted" (a common phrase found 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.
  • +2289166855 (Togo, probably a 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.
  • uzoego03@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: uzo ego <uzoego04@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 02:18:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Private,Your Attention Neede Urgently.Spike


FROM : MR UZO EGO,
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)
TOGO S.A 13 RUE DU COMMERCE
BP.346 LOME -TOGO
WEST AFRICA.

My Dear M C Spike,

I AM UZO EGO, THE AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT, FOREIGN
REMITTANCE DEPT AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK PLEASE REPLY TO THIS BOX (uzoego03@yahoo.com) I am writing following the impressive information about your profile through the website your capability and reliability to champion this opportunity.

In my department, we discovered an abandoned sum of (20.5million US dollars). belonging Mr John Bowman who died in an air crash along with his wife on the 31st October 1999 in an Egyptian airline 990 with other passengers on board,Since we got this information about his death, we have been expecting his next of Kin to come over and claim his money because we can not release it unless somebody applies for it as next of Kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking and financial policies but unfortunately we learnt that his supposed next of kin or relation died along side with him in the accident leaving no body behind to claim the money.

It is therefore upon this discovery that I and other officials in my department now decided to make this business proposal to you and release the money to you as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and we don t want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed bills.

The Banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after long period,the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund.The request for a foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and an indegine cannot stand as next of kin to the deceased family.

We agreed that 40% of this money will be for you as foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account,10% will be set aside for expenses incurred during this transaction and 50 % would be for me and my colleagues. Thereafter I and my colleagues will visit your country for disbursement according to the percentages indicated.

Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the Bank as relation or next of kin of the deceased indicating your private, telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the money will be remmitted.
Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application you will send to the bank immediately.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is 100% hitch free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear as all required arrangements have been made for the smooth transfer of this funds.You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this letter.
I decided to contact you as you have products of interest in your part of the world where we can invest our own percentage to avoid peoples awareness as we are civil servants. We can conclude this operation within ten banking days.

Please keep this very confidential and foward to me in your response the following.
1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number
3. Your Contact Address.

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.
May God be with you. Trusting to hear from you shortly. Peace and love always.
Best regards
Uzo Ego,
[ADB]
Call me immediately on +228 9166 855










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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam