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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • +2348058946124 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • stanly.lawson@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Stanley Lawson <l.stanley67@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: stanly.lawson@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:16:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: TREAT URGENT PLEASE


From:Dr.Stanley Lawson
7,Etim Iyang Avenue,
Victoria Island,Lagos
E-mail:stanly.lawson@yahoo.com
Tell:+2348058946124

Dear Friend,
It is with trust and confidence that i write to make this urgent business proposal to you, please treat like a blood brother affair. I have no other means to send this message if not through email because your contact information is limited to me.I contacted you to seek for your assistance to assist me in providing a convenient bank account for the transfer of US$25,000,000.00 (twenty-five million us. dollars only) pending on my arrival in your country for utilization and disbursement with the you.

This funds arosed from a deliberate inflation of the value of a contract awarded by my ministry , the federal ministry of agriculture(fma) to an expatriate company. The contract has been executed and payment made to the original contractor, remaining the over-invoiced amount of US$25 million us dollars which i want to transfer out of the country in my favour for disbursement between me and you.

The transfer of this money can only be possible with the help of a foreigner who will be presented as the beneficiary of the funds. As government officials, we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts, and this is the reason why i decided to contact you. I have agreed that if you/your company can act as the beneficiary of this fund (US$25 million) it will be transferred into your account and you will retain 25% of the total amount for your assistance, while 75% will be reserves for me.

I hereby solict for your assistance in providing a convenient bank account number where this fund would be transferred. I intend coming over there on the completion of this transfer to secure my share of the money. Please note that i have been careful and have made all arragements towards the success and smooth transfer of the fund to your acccount before contacting you.

Be rest assured that this transaction is 100% risk free, indicate your interest urgently by contacting me immediately through my private E-mail address:stanly.lawson@yahoo.com , more details about this transaction will be given to you as soon as i receive your positive respond.

Your urgent response will be appreciated.

Yours faithfully,
Dr.Stanley Lawson.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam