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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • +2348030517941 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: kings male <drkings_male9@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 12:00:00 +0000
Subject: ATTN:URGENT REPLY



NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION FALOMO OFFICE COMPLEX, IKOYI, P.M.B. 12701. LAGOS FROM THE DESK OF: DR KINGS MALE B.sc. {UNN} Ph.D : M.sc. MNM:MCIA MANAGER 11, BUDGET AND PLANNING DIRECT TEL NO : 234-8030517941DIRECT FAX NO : 234-8025741095DIRECT E-MAIL :drkings_male
THE PRESIDENT/CEO

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

WE ARE SENDING THIS LETTER TO YOU BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO HELP US IN OUR BID TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF FORTY-ONE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($41.5M USD) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM,THIS COMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.WITH OUR POSITIONS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OURSELVES THE SUM OF FORTY-ONE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS(US$41.5M).THIS AMOUNT WAS ACCUMULATED THROUGH UNDECLARED WINDFALL FROM SALES OF CRUDE OIL DURING THE GULF WAR.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED SINCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY OUR LAWS TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT.IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH US$8.3MILLION OF THE REMITTED FUNDS,WE KEEP US$31.125MILLION WHILE US$2.075MILLION WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET EXPENSES AND PAY THE NECCESSARY TAXES.

IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO A SIMILAR TRANSACTION WAS CARRIED OUT WITH ONE MR.PATRICE MILLER THE PRESIDENT OF CRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION AT NUMBER 135, EAST 57TH STREET, 28TH FLOOR ,NEW YORK. 10022 WITH TELEPHONE NUMBER(212)308-7788 AND TELEX NUMBER 6731689, AFTER THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTNERS IN WHICH HE WAS TO TAKE 5%. THE MONEY WAS DULY TRANSFERRED INTO HIS ACCOUNT ONLY TO BE DISAPPOINTED ON OUR ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK AS WE WERE RELIABLY INFORMED THAT MR.PATRICE MILLER WAS NO LONGER ON THAT ADDRESS WHILLE HIS TELEPHONE AND TELEX NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REALLOCATED TO SOMEBODY ELSE, THAT IS HOW WE LOST US$27.5MILLION TO MR.PATRICE MILLER.

THIS TIME AROUND WE NEED A MORE RELIABLE AND TRUSTHWORTHY PERSON OR A REPUTABLE COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH HENCE THIS LETTER TO YOU, SO IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTED AND INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU.WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL LET US HAVE OUR SHARE WHEN THIS AMOUNT OF US$41.5M IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE FAX,PHONE OR EMAIL , ONLY YOUR RESPONSE SO WE CAN ADVICE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF THE TRANSACTION. ALL MODALITIES OF THE TRANSFER HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AND ONCE STARTED WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 14 WORKING DAYS WITH THE ABSOLUTE SUPPORT OF ALL CONCERNED. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE.

I MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO GET THROUGH TO ME BECAUSE OF MY COUNTRY POOR TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM, ANY TIME YOU TRY TO REACH ME AND YOU GET BUSY SIGNAL PLEASE KEEP TRYING YOU WILL DEFINITELY GET THROUGH.

PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL.GOD BE WITH YOU AS I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.
PLEASE REPLY BY FAX,PHONE OR E-MAIL ONLY { THROUGH THE TEL/FAX NUMBER OR E-MAIL WRITTEN ABOVE }.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR KINGS MALE

NOTE : TO AVOID IMPERSONATION AND FOR SECURITY REASONS, PLEASE ASK FOR THE CODE WORD WHENEVER YOU CALL. THE CODE IS " KINGS ". IF THIS CODE IS NOT MENTIONED BY WHOSEEVER CLAIM TO BE ME, PLEASE DISCONNECT AND CALL AGAIN.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO ASSIST US REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE, MOBILE AND FAX NUMBER FOR MORE DETAILS.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam