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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "samdada0190@post.ro " <samdada@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 02:24:27 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend, Urgent Assistance Required. US$21.5 Million,


FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT,
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (NIG) PLC,
5 TINUNBU STREET, V/ISLAND.
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
EMAIL samdada0190@post.ro

Dear Friend,

Urgent Assistance Required.


My name is Mr.Sam Dada . I am the chief Accountant with UNITED BANK FOR
AFRICA (NIG) PLC, here in Nigeria. I would want to use this medium after
going through your profile to seek for assistance in a business transaction
which is of mutual benefit. A foreigner late Mr.David McGrath who is from
United State,an Oil Merchant/ Contractor with the Federal Government of
Nigeria, until his death in a ship mishap on the 2nd of May 1999, who banked
with us at our Bank and had a closing balance of US$21.5 Million, which the
bank now expect any of his available next of kin to claim.

To this regards, I have been directed by the board of Trustees of the Bank
to notify the diseased next of kin, which I have done and found out that he
has no next of kin, which means that this funds will be lost to the
government, which we all know will be stolen. In order to avert this
development I deem it fit to consult you also to present you as the late
Mr.David McGrath's Next of Kin so that the fund will be subsequently
transferred and paid into your foreign account. On indicating your interest,
all documents and proofs to enable you get this funds will be carefully
worked out and I am assuring you a 100% risk free transaction.

You will be allowed to retain 30% of the total amount after the transaction.
If this proposal is okay by you mail me as soon as possible to enable me
furnish you with relevant details to this transaction.

Note: This transaction will only last us 10 working days. You are expected
to forward to me,

Your Full Names,

Your Full Contact Address,

Your Occupation,

Your Personal phone/ Fax number of easy communication.

Kindly contact me through this mail: (samdada0190@post.ro)

Best regards,

Mr.Sam Dada

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam