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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:
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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)
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
• 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.
  • +2348068041199 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Maria Williams <mrsmaria_williams03@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <msrmaria_williams03@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 20:25:42 +0000
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE



From: Mrs. Maria Williams.Abuja-Nigeria.Cell: +234 80680411996th SEP, 2007. STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL. Dear Friend,
I got your contact from a business
journal I received from your embassy.
Upon the recommendation of your
good self, I was convinced to have
singled your name out of the names
recommended to me by your trade
ministry as a reliable partner to deal
with, though I did not disclose my
intention to them.
I am Mrs. Maria Williams. I am
presently working with the Federal
Ministry of Power, Mines and Steel
here in Nigeria.
I and three other colleagues have
decided to contact you so that you can
assist us to receive the sum of Ten
Million, Nine hundred thousand U.S
dollars ($10.9m) into your country on
our behalf, we have funds from other
categories of contracts which we also
like to transfer through you if this is
concluded. I want to assure you that
there is no problem. These money originated from an over
invoiced contracts in the ministry
where I work, some years back and
has not been claimed, these funds are
kept in an escrow account awaiting
an opportunity to remit it to a trust
worthy person overseas, who will not
use an advantage over us to siphon
these funds. I want to assure you that you don't
have to be afraid of anything because
we have perfected our strategies over
here for a hitch free transaction.All you have to do is to indicate your
interest and I will forward to you the
mondis-oparadis of the deal and how
you are going to receive the money.

Best regards, Mrs. Maria Williams.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam