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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "30% for you " (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "jim lawson" <engr_j_l_babangida@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: richard_johnson30001@e-mail.ro
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2006 12:21:37 +0100
Subject: PLEASE READ THIS AND REPLY ACCORDINGLY

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I KNOW THAT THIS PROPOSAL MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE, ESPECIALY HAVING TO COME FROM SOMEONE YOU HAVE NOT MET BEFORE, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CO-OPERATE WITH ME SO THAT THIS $40M WILL BE RELEASED AND TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

MY NAME IS ENGR.RICHARD JOHNSON, I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE OF NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (N.N.P.C).

IT IS MY PROFOUND INTENTION TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF $40M INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

THE $40M WAS THE OVER ESTIMATED BALLANCE FROM THE CONTRACTS AWARDED TO BOTH FOREIGN AND LOCAL CONTRACTORS.

THE REAL CONTRACT VALUE WAS $170 MILLION DOLLARS BUT IT WAS OVER ESTIMATED TO $210 MILLION DOLLARS.

THOUGH, THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULY EXECUTED BY THE CONTRACTORS AND THE REAL CONTRACT AMOUNT ($170M) HAS BEEN PAID TO THE CONTRACTORS.

RIGHT NOW,WE ARE LEFT WITH THIS OVER ESTIMATED BALLANCE($40m) WHICH IS STILL FLOATING AT THE PAYING BANK AWAITING FINAL RELEASE ORDER FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT TO ANY RELIABLE FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNT.

WE ARE THEREFORE NEED YOUR COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE SO THAT WE WILL USE YOUR NAME TO SENCURE APPROVALS FROM THE PAYMENT APPROVAL COMMITTEE TO ENABLE YOU ACT AS THE BENEFICIARY AND RECEIVE THE $40M FROM THE BANK.

WE HAVE DECIDED THAT WHEN THE TOTAL SUM OF $40M IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, WE WILL SHARE IT AS FOLLOWS:

30% FOR YOU AS THE ACCOUNT OWNER

70% FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THIS OFFICE.

IF YOU ARE READY TO ASSIST US, PLEASE SEND US THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATIONS:

YOUR NAME:-------
YOUR OCCUPATION:----
YOUR ADDRESS:----
YOUR PRIVATE PHONE NUMBERS:-----
YOUR PRIVATE FAX NUMBER:--------

YOUR REPLY AND INFORMATION REQUIRED SHOULD BE URGENT SO THAT WE WILL PROCEED TO PAYMENT APPROVAL DEPTS AND OBTAIN THE NECESSARY APPROVALS FOR SWIFT TRANSFER OF THE $40M INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

I AM EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST.

ENGR.RICHARD JOHNSON.
CHAIRMAN,
CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE,

SEND YOUR REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL: richard_johnson30001@e-mail.ro

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam