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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "nuhu ribadu" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
  • "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 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.
  • 7@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "EFCC NIGERIA" <efccnigeria-3@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: efcc_nigeria_7@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:59:37 -0600
Subject: FROM DESK OF ALHAJI NUHU RIBADU

FROM DESK OF ALHAJI NUHU RIBADU
CHAIRMAN ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)
HEAD OFFICE: 707, ADEOLA HOPEWELL STREET VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA
EMAIL: efcc_nigeria_7@yahoo.com  
 
DEAR BENEFICIARY,
 
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS WHOSE CONTRACT FUND WHICH IS AMOUNTED TO BE $5.5M (FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) HAS BEEN PENDING FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME NOW AND SOME HOODLUMS OR RATHER RADICALS HAVE BEEN USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET MONEY FROM YOU USING THE NAME OF TOP PERSONNELS IN OUR COUNTRY.
 
PLEASE FORGIVE US FOR THE INEFFICIENCY BUT WE PROMISE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU RECEIVE YOUR ENTIRE FUND AND ALSO GET THE CULPRITS ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE YOU HAVE TO REPLY THIS MAIL IMMEDIATELY YOU GET IT SO THAT WE WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE BANK WHERE YOUR MONEY IS AT THE MOMENT AND I PROMISE YOU I WILL MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR MONEY IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER
 
SO YOU CAN AS WELL FORWARD TO ME YOUR TELEPHONE & FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
 
BEST REGARDS,
 
ALHAJI NUHU RIBADU
CHAIRMAN ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam