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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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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:
  • "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 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.
  • +2348034352635 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Shedrack Okon" <shedy.okon01@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: shedy_okon@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2006 04:27:01 +0100
Subject: Urgent response is needed

CHIEF ACCOUNTANT
AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC
#o 10 AMODU OJUKUTU, VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS.

DEAR ,

WITH DUE REGARDS MY NAME IS MR.SHEDRACK OKON THE ACCOUNTANT, CREDIT AND
FOREIGN BILLS OF AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC. I AM WRITING IN RESPECT OF
A TRANSACTION WHICH I WOULD REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE TO SUCCESSFULLY
ACCOMPLISH.

A FOREIGN CUSTOMER OF MY BANK WITH ACCOUNT NUMBER 14-255-2004/utb/t PERISHED
IN AN AUTO CRASH WITH FAMILY. SINCE THE DEMISE OF THIS OUR CUSTOMER I HAVE
PERSONALLY MONITORED THE ACCOUNT WITH KEEN INTEREST TO SEE THE NEXT OF KIN
BECAUSE I HAPPENED TO BE THE ACCOUNT OFFICER TO THE DECEASED CUSTOMER, BUT
TILL DATE NO ONE HAS COME TO CLAIM HIS FUNDS OF USD 8.5 M, [ EIGHT MILLION,
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS] WHICH HAS REMAINED LODGED WITH
MY BANK FOR A WHILE UP TILL NOW AND IS DUE TO BE RECALLED BACK TO THE
TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND.

ON THIS NOTE I DECIDED TO SEEK FOR A PARTNER WHOSE NAME SHALL BE USED AS THE
NEXT OF KIN AS NO ONE HAS COME UP TO BE THE NEXT OF KIN. THE BANKING ETHICS
HERE DO NOT ALLOW SUCH MONEY TO REMAIN UNCLAIMED BEYOND FOUR YEARS, IN THE
EVENT OF WHICH THE MONEY WILL BE RECALLED TO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED.

IN VIEW OF THIS I CONSIDER YOU FAVOURABLE TO BE MY PARTNER IN THIS
PROCESS.THE NEED FOR A FOREIGNER AS THE NEXT OF KIN IN THIS TRANSACTION IS
OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A NIGERIAN
CANNOT STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.

I HAVE AGREED THAT 20% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS A FOREIGN PARTNER ,
IN RESPECT OF PROVIDING AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT,WHILE THE REST WILL BE FOR ME,
THEREAFTER I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT AS I AM ALMOST DUE FOR
RETIREMENT .

THEREFORE TO FACILITATE THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO THE PROVIDED
ACCOUNT, YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY TO THE BANK AS A NEXT OF KIN/BENEFICIARY TO
THE DECEASED , INDICATING YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER,AND FAX NUMBER FOR
EASIER COMMUNICATION . UPON THE RECEIPT OF YOUR AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSE, I WILL
GUIDE YOU ACCORDINGLY AND DISCUSS THE PROCESS WITH YOU. BE REST ASSURED THAT
THIS TRANSACTION IS HITCH FREE AND THE NECESSARY MODALITIES TO ACHEIVE
SUCCESS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND ONLY REQUIRE ADHERENCE.

YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON MY MOBILE TELEPHONE NUMBER; CALL +234 803 435 2635 FOR
MORE DETAILS. YOUR NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE RESPONSE IS HIGHLY WELCOMED.

THANK YOU.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
MR.SHEDRACK OKON.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam