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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: <barr_johnodu55@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 06:52:06 -0500
Subject: COMPLIMENT

Hello,

I do hope this letter will not come to you as a surprise. It was borne out
of my desire to share a mutual business relationship with you.

My name is John Odu esq., Attorney to Hall Mark Bank here in Nigeria.I
have been working with this company for (12) twelve years. Within this
period,I have watched with meticulous precision, how heads of departments
have been using Hall Mark Company to move huge sums of amount to their
foreign accounts.They bring in these consignments of money cash and
secretly declare the contents as family treasure or vital documents etc.
since the bankruptcy of Hall Mark Company, management changed the
procedure of claims of consignments. As soon as you are able to produce
all the secret information
as contained in the secret file of any consignment, it will be released to
you upon demand. There is a consignment no 1513 which was been deposited
by the late ceo of Hall Mark and no one is aware of the deposit till
date.

He deposited it, based on the fact that his fund manager abroad has to
come for it later on but it couldn't work out as he planned. The amount
involved is total of 12.5 million Dollars. My main aim of contacting you
is to assist me in retrieving the box of money out from the security
company as the fund manager since he did not disclose to this company
where the person is coming from.
I assure you every information and documents related to this business till
the last day and guarantee you, that all arrangement will be legal. I have
agreed to share the funds with you in the ratio of 50:50
Best regards,
Mr. John Odu .esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam