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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "trunk boxes" (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.
  • +2348037475858 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • pay.onlin@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Frank Newman" <franknewman@xaras2.selfip.com>
Reply-To: pay.onlin@usa.com
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:11:24 +0200
Subject: from mr frank newman


Dear Friend


I am Mr Frank Newman, an accountant with Stallion Nigeria Limited, a Foreign Company based in Lagos state of Nigeria, Stallion that was owned by the Vaswani Brothers was involved all kind of businesses in here in Nigeria, but unfortunately, the company got into Money Laundry, an illegal sale of Oil and other illegal businesses and some parts of the money realized from their illegal activities were transferred through a security company out of the Country but with a security stamp on it and after some time the Federal Government of Nigeria discovered the illegal deals, and revoked their license and the Vaswani Brothers were in September 25th 2003 deported. Please see the website for more details http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2003/sep/25/0151.html

As the accountant of the Stallion Nigeria Limited, I have in my possession all documents containing all information about one of those trunk boxes deposited with the security company. The content of the box is Thirty-Nine, United States dollars (US$39m). I have put in an application with the security company to transfer this one box to their correspondence office in any part of world, which they have obliged. And being that this deal was carried out by a Foreign firm, I need a trust worthy foreigner like you that will claim this box from the security company office abroad and assist us to a logical conclusion of this pending business which I believe that if you assist us to claim the box, that both of us are bound to benefit from the transaction.

Presently all I need from you is to stand before the security company and sign as one of the Vaswani Brothers to enable you claim the money and pay it into your bank account after you must have claimed the box (money) out of the security company. Please, note that this transaction is 95% risk-free and there is no harm or scam involved, for all necessary machinery has been put in place for successful and smooth conclusion of this mutual benefit transaction. And please remember, that I have with me all the necessary and vital documents that will prove that the money belong to us.

I certainly hope will be trustworthy and kind enough to keep my own share of the money when the money finally gets into your account. We hereby agree to compensate your sincere and candid effort in this regard with 40% of the funds after the transfer and 10%(percent) will be set aside for any expenses both local and international like; transportation, telephone bills, etc. will be settled from this percentage, while 50% will be for me and two of my colleagues. I will be looking forward to doing business with you, and solicit your confidentiality in this transaction.

Acknowledge the receipt of this proposal immediately please send us your full address, private telephone number or cell phone, and fax number for easier communication in this transaction.
Yours faithfully,
Mr Frank Newman
For- Stallion Nigeria Limited
Mobile: +234-803-747-5858
Email: pay.onlin@usa.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam