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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
  (+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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +2348025488727 (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.
  • mohammedyahaya80@yahoo.co.uk
  • mohammedyahaya80@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: akinmohammed@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:09:32 +0200
Subject: Hi Urgent Letter From Mohammed


Dear,
I hope this e-mail wouldn\'t come to you as a surprise.Having
gone through your profile, I am convinced and pleasedto solicit your
sincere and urgent assistance over thismatter.
I am Barrister Mohammed
A. Yahaya, an Attorney to onelate Mr. Peter J. a local contractor with
the Lagos StateGovernment of Nigeria. My client Late was awarded
acontract worth of Forty-Five Million United States
Dollars(45,000,000:00USD) by the Lagos state Government of Nigeriafor
the maintenance and construction of roads in the statesin 1999 and the
contract was fully executed by my lateclient. My client has been paid
Twenty Million United StatesDollars from the contract and he was to
receive the balancepayment of the contract, but unfortunately my client
wasinvolved in a fatal auto accident with his entire family onSagamu
Express Road where he eventually lost his life andhis two kids and wife.
This was in 25th of December of2002.
Sequel to the death of late client,
there is every needto present a next of kin to Lagos State Government so
thatthey can release the balance of his contract money. Alreadythe
CONTRACT PAYMENT OFFICE under the Lagos State Governmenthas contacted me
that the balance payment for the executedcontract, which has been
approved for payment, is ready forcollection. I am therefore asked to
present thebeneficiary/next of kin for the claim of the money
(draft)from their office.
At this juncture, I have decided to divert
thisTwenty-Five Million United States Dollars to a foreigner whowill be
presented to LSG, by soliciting the assistance of areliable individual
(A Foreigner) that will be presented asthe beneficiary/next of kin of
the fund. I will prepare alllegal documents in your name as the
successor /next of kinfrom our Federal High Court to back up the claim
on yourbehalf which will enable Lagos State Government to releasethe
money into your nominated bank account on your behalf asthe known next
of kin to my late client.
As soon as I hear your positive response;
action willcommence. Please bear in mind that there is no risk
involvedin this transaction, but it requires absolute sincerity
andconfidentiality due to the nature of the transaction.
I am willing to
give you 40% of the fund as a reward foryour assistance in this
transaction while 5% of the moneywill be set aside after successful
claim of this money totake care of any expenses that will be involved
locally orinternationally during the process of executing thebusiness. I
will want you to respond to my email via belowemail address if you find
it difficult getting this one,with your private phone numbers, fax
number, cell phone #,your home/Company\'s Address as I will be coming
over toyour end for the sharing and for quick communication.
I look
forward to your swift response.
Regards,
Barrister Mohammed A.
Yahaya.
mohammedyahaya80@yahoo.co.uk or
mohammedyahaya80@hotmail.com
+2348025488727

Note: Having or bearing the
same name with my clientwill make this claim very easy as I am going to
present andsubmit your name as the next of kin and with me the
Attorneyto the late man you have nothing to fear as I will becontacted
by the Contract Payment Committee for confirmationwhich I will confirm
you as the next of kin and the moneywill be paid to you.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam