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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (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. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million 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 next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +2348028404163 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: peter_amangbo@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 11:17:34 -0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?BELONG=20I=20HAVE=20BEEN=20TRYING=20TO=20REACH=20YOU?=

Mr Peter Amangbo.
General Accounts Officer.
Auditing control Unit
Citizens Bank Nig Plc.
119, Adeola Odeku, V/I.
Lagos Nigeria.
Phone:234-8028404163

Dearly Beloved Friend,

I am an accountant with Citizens BANK NIG PLC; my name is Mr Peter Amangbo,
a Banker. I am the Accounts officer to late Engr. (George ) a National of
your country, who is a contractor with the DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES
VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS.

Here in after shall be referred to as my client On 30 JAN 2002, my client,
his wife, and their three children were involved in the Kenya airways flight
with registration number 5Y-BEN which departed from Nairobi to destination
Lagos and the all family died in this fatal air crash on 30 JAN 2002 Since
then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients
extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money
and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged, particularly
the CITIZENS BANK NIG PLC. Where the deceased had an account Valued at about
( $35.5 million dollars ) has issued me a notice to provide the next of
kin. Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working
days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued
at ($35.5 million dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me Can share
the money.40% to me and 35% to you and 20% for any charity organization
in your country. While 5% for unforeseen bottle necks we might incure in
this transaction an attorney will be contracted to help us revalidate and
notarize all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you and me from any breach of the law.

Best regards,

Mr Peter Amangbo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam