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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
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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)
  • "hundred thousand 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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "DR" <alamuc1@denisonmines.ca>
Reply-To: <dralamuc1@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:35:06 -0600
Subject: From The Desk Of Dr. Ify Alamu

From The Desk Of Dr. Ify Alamu
Union Bank Plc,
Lagos,Nigeria.

ADMINISRATION OF ESTATE

Do accept my sincere
apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
Ethics. I am Dr. Ify
Alamu
Investigation Officer of Union Bank Plc,ILupeju
Branch, Lagos,
Nigeria.I have an urgent and very profitable business.
One of our
accounts with holding balance of US$15,500,000.00
(FIFTENN MILLION AND
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) has been
dormant and last
operated in the past 3 years. From my investigations
and confirmations,
the owner of this account is a Foreigner by name
Engr. Abbas Gumeri
died in Kenya Air Bus (A310-301) Flight KQ431.

Since then nobody has
done anything as regards the claiming of this money as
he has no family
Member who is aware of the existence of either the
account nor the
Funds.
Information from the National Immigration also states
that he
was single on entry into Nigeria , listen I know about
the internet
scam but this is not related with any such act is
truely risk free and
get back to me for further clearification.

I have confidentially
discussed this issue with some of the bank officials
and we have agreed
to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We
thus propose to do
business with you, standing in as the next of kin of
these funds from
the deceased and funds released to you after due
processes have been
followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles
as the
fund is Legitimate and does not originate from drug,
money laundry,
terrorism or any other Illegal act.On your interest,
let me hear from
you.

Regards,
Dr. Ify Alamu
Investigation officer

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam