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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!
  
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• 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.

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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:
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • 233207061028

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Ojo <micael246@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <michaelojo54@libero.it>
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 05:43:51 -0400
Subject: PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE


DIRECTOR AUDIT DEPARTMENTOFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT {ECOWAS} TEL: 233-207061028 FAX: 233-21249977Website: www.ecowas.int DEAR SIR,SUBJECT: REQUESTING YOUR CO-OPERATION IN TRANSFER OF US$72,000,000.00 (SEVENTY TWO MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) TO A SECURED FOREIGN ACCOUNT.WE ARE TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE A GOOD RESULT. THERE IS AN APPROVED CONTRACT FUNDS IN ECOWAS BANK FOR INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT(EBID) AND BANK OF GHANA WHICH WE WANT TO TRANSFER OFFSHORE FOR SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS. YOU WILL FRONT AS OUR PARTNER AND THE BONA-FIDE BENEFICIARY TO THIS ALREADY EXECUTED OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT SUM TOTALING US$72MILLION. AFTER THE TRANSFER OF THE FUNDS TO YOUR ACCOUNT IS DONE, I AND MY COLLEAGUE WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE ROUND TABLE FACE TO FACE MEETING. RESPOND TO ME NOW THAT YOU ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL AND I WILL DISCUSS WITH YOU REGARDING THE DOCUMENTS THAT COVERS THE PAYMENT. ECOWAS FINANCE MINISTRIES OF MEMBER STATES ENDORSED BY THE ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL TO BE TRANSFERRED UNDER PAYMENT REFERENCE, ECOWAS/OGN/MF/BOG/B2517/99. MOREOVER, IT IS PERTINENT TO NOTE THAT YOU DO NOT REQUIRE MUCH ENGAGEMENT SINCE WE HAVE TAKEN CARE IN FULL CAPACITY. I EXPECT YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE WITH HOPE THAT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE CONFIDENTIALITY NATURE OF THIS TRANSACTION. WITH WARM REGARDS,MR. MICHAEL OJO
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam