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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:
  • "good day friend" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "central bank of nigeria" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: John Alison <john.alison74@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: ja003_cbn@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 00:10:02 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU.


GOOD DAY FRIEND,
CONFIDENTIAL,

YOUR ASSISTANCE IS HIGHLY NEEDED

I AM VERY SURE THAT THIS MAIL WILL BRING LOTS OF SURPRISES AND
CURIOSITY TO YOU SINCE THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE BEFORE
NOW BETWEEN US.

IAM JOHN ALISON, A WORKER IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, PACKAGING
AND COURIER DEPARTMENT.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT AMONGST OTHERS FROM A SEARCH INTO THE INTERNET AND WAS INSPIRED TO SEEK YOUR CO-OPERATION.PLEASE I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN LONDON AND WILL BE SHIP THROUGH OUR ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT TO YOUR COUNTRY BY A DIPLOMAT,FOR PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT BETWEEN US.PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE IS $20,000,000.00.

MEANWHILE THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I
HAVE IN THE PACKAGE .IN YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO MY PROPOSAL.

PLEASE FORWARD TO ME THE FOLLOWING:
(1)YOUR MAILING ADDRESS
(2)YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX.

I AM READY TO CONCEDE UP TO 30% OF THE FUNDS TO YOU AS YOUR SHARE,IF
YOU WILL HELP ME RECEIVE THE PACKAGE AND INVEST IT IN YOUR COUNTRY WHICH HAS A STABLE ECONOMY.PLEASE MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANY BODY.IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU,YOU CAN E-MAIL ME BACK.

FOR SECURITY REASONS OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME.

YOURS FAITHFULLY
JOHN ALISON.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam