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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million us 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 next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • tom.bello2006@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Tom Bello <tom.bello_c19@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <tom.bello2006@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:25:13 -0800
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED



Dear SIR/MADAM, I am an Accountant with UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC, My name is Mr.Tom Bello,I am the personal Account Manager to my late MR.JOSH GARY, a National of your country, who used to work with Summit Oil company in Nigeria.
Here in after shall be refered to as my client On April 22 2004, my client, his wife, and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu Express Way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client with the UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC, where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($20 Million US 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 ($20 Million U S Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. 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 co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you, that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law.Please get in touch with me by my email:(tom.bello2006@yahoo.com.hk) to enable us discuss further.and yours,1,Your Full Name2,House Address 3,Your Contact Number/Fax4,Your Age and Gender.

Best RegardsTom Bello.
UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam