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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Frank Obi" <obifrank@klikni.cz>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 12:18:07 +0100
Subject: Official Letter


Official Letter
From The Desk Of Mr Frank Obi
Union Bank Plc, ILupeju
Branch,
Lagos,Nigeria.

ADMINISRTATION OF ESTATE

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
Ethics. I am Mr Frank Obi, Investigation Officer of Union Bank
Plc,ILupeju Branch, Lagos,Nigeria.I have an urgent and very profitable
business.One of our accounts with holding balance of US$3,500,000.00 (THREE
MILLION AND FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) has been dormant
and last operated in the past 3 years.

From my investigations and confirmations,the owner of this account is
a Foreigner by name Engr. Abbas Gumeri died in Kenya Air Bus
(A310-301) Flight KQ431.Since then nobody has done anything as regards the
claiming of this money as he has no family Member who is aware of the
existence of either the account nor the Funds.Information from the National
Immigration also states that he was single on entry into Nigeria ,
listen I know about the internet scam but this is not related with any such
act is truely risk free and get back to me for further clearification.

I have confidentially discussed this issue with some of the bank
officials and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal
with.
We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of
kin of these funds from the deceased and funds released to you after due
processes have been followed.This transaction is totally free of risk
and troubles as the fund is Legitimate and does not originate from drug,
money laundry, terrorism or any other Illegal act.On your interest,
let me hear from you.

Regards,
Mr Frank Obi,
Investigation officer

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam