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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: Everest Izukwu <everestiz@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 04:40:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATTEND TO RGENTLY.


ATTN ROBERT ISED,

THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE CONCLUDED THE REQUIREMENTS OF MRS VALERIA.

I HAVE GONE TO THE CENTRAL BANK ABUJA THIS MORNING TO COLLECT THE MONEY WHICH YOU SENT BUT HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY DO PAY OUT THIS MONEY IF IT IS AFFILLIATED TO THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

THE MTCN THAT WAS SENT BY MONEYXFER AS I WAS TOLD WAS NOT ENOUGH TO RECIEVE THE MONEY BY WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, THEY ONLY PAY THE MONEY IF THE MTCN IS ENOUGH TO RECIEVE THE MONEY BY WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

PLEASE INFORM THEM THAT THE RECIEPIENT OF THE MONEY IS TO RECIEVE IT BY WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AND THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE NAME TO EITHER THE NAME OF MY SECRETARY NELSON CHIOBA OR THE NAME OF THE CLAIMS INSPECTOR WILSON JALMET, AS I WILL NOT HAVE THE TIME MOVING TO BANKS DUE TO WORK LOAD OF THE PAST THREE DAYS.

KINDLY DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THE CHEQUE TO BE PREPARED AND SENT TO YOU.

MR EVEREST




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam