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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• 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.
  • +2348051251807 (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.
  • rev.anthonyokeke@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "BELLO JAMES" <officemailng@mailbox.hu>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 13:33:31 +0100
Subject: YOUR INHERITANCE FUND


OFFICE OF THE FORIEGN PAYMENT COMMISSIONER;
DR.JAMES BELLO
HEAD OFFICE=IKEJA-LAGOS-NIGERIA
REF - NUMBER: FL/04/736207152/NG

We are deeply happy to notify you about our Government new plans to
compensate the SCAM VICTIMS and the OUTSTANDING BENEFICIARIES due for
payment and yet that have not received their payment.

Congratulations!

NOTE; Based on the Government current monetary policy, all payments have
been shifted to a reliable Saves and Loan Company Limited (S.L.C.L) here in
Nigeria-west Africa.

The payment approved for compensation to those SCAM VICTIMS and the
OUTSTANDING BENEFICIARIES is $10.8M each. Therefore you are entitled
to$10.8M compensation.

To file for your claim, you are requested to contact the coordinator Saves
and Loan Company Limited in the name of Rev.Anthony Okeke on his direct
e-mail:( rev.anthonyokeke@yahoo.co.uk,Tell:234-8051251807,to enable him
process our payment. All payments must be claimed not later than one month
after the date of this notice. Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary
delays and complications, remember to quote your reference numbers in all
correspondence.

Finally, note that all modalities have been put in place to pay you without
delay as soon as you contact Rev.Anthony Okeke on:
rev.anthonyokeke@yahoo.co.uk

Congratulations once more.

Sincerely yours,
JAMES BELLO
FORIEGN PAYMENT COMMISSIONER

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam