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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!
  
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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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348032451744 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: quick <quick@metpb.net>
Reply-To: marksm_1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:15:26 +0100
Subject: PRIVATE DEAL.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I KNOW THIS MAIL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BUT I PLEAD WITH YOU TO TAKE TIME TO GO THROUGH IT AND GET BACK TO ME.

I AM MR. MARK SMITH. I WORK WITH THE PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPT AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.

DURING THE AIR-LIFT OF SOME PRESIDENTIAL CONSIGNMENTS TO EUROPE, MY COLEAGUES AND I WHO WORK IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL CONSIGNMENT CONTAINING $15M (FIFTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS) FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT AND LABELLED IT AS "PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT MATERIALS" FOR SECURITY REASONS.

I AM CONTACTING YOU TO ASSIST US IN GETTING THIS CONSIGNMENT CLEARED AND DELIVERED TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY FROM THE AGENT IT HAS BEEN DEPOSITED WITH BASED ON THE AGREED TERMS.

(1) ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO CLAIM THIS CONSIGNMENT WILL BE PROCURED IN YOUR NAME TO ENABLE THE AGENT CLEAR AND DELIVER SAME TO YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.

(2) THAT YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO A SHARE OF 25% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT.

(3) 5% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR SUNDRY EXPENSES.

(4) 70% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS WILL BE FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND I.

IF THIS BUSINESS TRANSACTION AND IT’S TERMS ARE OK BY YOU, YOU CAN CALL ME ON MY PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER: +234-803-245-1744 OR YOU SEND ME A RETURN E-MAIL INDICATING YOUR INTEREST TO PARTNER WITH ME IN THIS VERY PROFITABLE BUSINESS DEAL.

SEND ME YOUR FULL NAMES, FULL MAILING AND CONTCAT ADDRESS, YOUR PERSONAL TELEPHONE / FAX NUMBERS FOR EASIER COMMUNICATION WITH ME AND THE AGENT IN EUROPE WHERE THE CONSIGNMENT WAS DEPOSITED.

PLEASE TAKE VERY IMPORTANT NOTE THAT THIS BUSINESS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE AS ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BACK YOU UP WITH THE CLAIM OF THE CONSIGNMENT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU HENCE WE ADVICE YOU TO KEEP THE ENTIRE TRANSACTION ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE CONSIGNMENT.

FOR SECURITY REASONS OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR. MARK SMITH.
COURIER DEPARTMENT (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam