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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
• 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.
  • +23418541756 (Nigeria, landline)
• 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.
  • marcus@zensearch.com

Fraud email example:

From: Usman Bello <usmanbelloxg25@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 21:52:46 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PERMISSION TO TRANSFER $25 MILLION U.S DOLLARS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.


FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CONTROL GENERAL:
ENGR. MARCUS JOHNSON
PHONE: 234-1-8541756
E-MAIL: marcus@zensearch.com
DATE: 28TH JULY, 2006

OUR REF: FGN/NNPC/LDWT/922

Dear Sir,

PERMISSION TO TRANSFER $25 MILLION U.S DOLLARS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

I know you might be surprised at this proposal, not to worry; I came to know of you among a selected few, in search of a reliable Partner through the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (NCCI). We intend to solicit your assistance on this transaction on the assumption that you will not disappoint us. We have $25Million US Dollars, which was accumulated overtime from over-inflated contracts in our ministry.

These funds, which we wish to acquire for ourselves directly but cannot do so by the virtues of our positions as civil servants who are not permitted to operate personal foreign accounts. It is in our quest for moving this said funds overseas that we are soliciting for your assistance to enable us transfer these funds into your account.

Your commission will be 30% of the total sum, while 60% for me and my colleagues, and 10% will be set aside for any expenses incurred in the course of this transaction. Could you please notify me of your acceptance to carry out this transaction urgently by the above email address or phone number on the receipt of this message? Also send to me, a copy of your company letter-headed paper, including your banking particulars and private phone and fax numbers for easy and effective communication so that I can contact you with more details on the modalities for the funds to be transferred into any account you may provide in due course.

This transaction is 100 percent risk free as we have projected having it completed within 10 working days of our banking system.

Thanking you in anticipate of your co-operation.

Yours truly,

Engr. Marcus JOHNSON.
The Control General,
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. (NNPC).





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam