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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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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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +2348079317403 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr William Ibru" <williamibru@hamdard.net.pk>
Reply-To: willyibru55@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:32:52 +0500
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL


From: Barrister William Ibru,
Ph: +234-8079317403

Your quick response is needed in this “Business Deal” that will
benefit both of us without any risk involved either now or later. I am
Barrister William Ibru, 55 years of age from West Africa and an
Executive Consultant Officer in the International Remittance
Department (NRD) in Nigeria.

I have a business proposal in the tune of $86,000.000.00- [Eighty Six
Million United States Dollars } to be transferred to any safe account
with your assistance. This fund has been lying, in suspense escrow
account for safekeeping for over 4 years as unclaimed funds placed as
Heritage/Investment Funds to a "late customer" Mr. John Paul Getty
from United States of America who died on Apr. 17, 2003 after a brief
illness in London Hospital (BBC News), Visit the web site below for
confirmations; < http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/2956897.stm >

I urgently need to hear from you if you are interested and you can be
assured that I will secure all Documentations to back your claims
with help of Top officials, so you should be 100% sure of your
security and all I need from you now is to present you to the Bank
Management as the next of kin to the deceased and have the Bank pay
you this money as the Beneficiary, kindly get back to me as quickly
as possible to enable me make all the necessary arrangement towards
how to present you to the bank as "truly next of kin" to the
deceased. It does not matter if you are from America or not.

After the successful transfer, we shall share in ratio of 40% for you
and 60% for me & helping Officials. Should you be interested, please
respond to my letter immediately, so we can commence all arrangements
and I will give you more information on the project and how we would
handle it. Please treat this business with utmost Confidentiality.

send me the following information for documentation purpose:

(1)Full names:
(2) Private phone numbers:
(3)Occupation:
(4)Age and Sex:


I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,
Barrister William Ibru,
Ph: +234-8079317403

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam