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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million us 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)
  • "affidavit " (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. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +2348036956989 (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.
  • stella_zaki@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "johnmaq45 Gazeta.pl" <johnmaq45@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:53:50 -0700
Subject: DIRECTOR, ATM CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT INTERNATIONL


*Dear Sir/Madam*

*I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank
Draft but did not heard from you since that time then I went and deposited
the Draft with INTERNATIONAL Bank Plc here in Nigeria, because I traveled to
Japan to see my boss and will not come back till next month end. I have
arranged with them to make your payment to you with their new ATM MASTER
CARD $6.5million us dollars which you can use to withdraw your money in any
ATM MACHINE around the globe. You have to contact the International Bank Plc
with your full contact informations such as follows.*

*1. FULL NAME
2. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
3 PHONE /CELL PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION*

*However, Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release YOUR
ATM CARD.*

*EMAIL: **stella_zaki@yahoo.com.hk*<http://us.f580.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=stella_zaki@yahoo.com.hk>
*
BANK MOBILE:+234-80-36956989
Mrs Stella zaki
DIRECTOR, ATM CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT INTERNATIONL*
**
*I have paid for the processing and delivery charges.The only Money that
your are going to pay to them is only $150 Dollars which they will use to
obtain the Affidavit Of Ownership from the Federal High Court Of Nigeria. So
Try to contact them and ask them how you will send the $150 to receive your
atm card,please do urgent and contact them as soon as possible to quicken
the processing of your card before your draft gets Expired . Let me know as
soon as you receive your Atm Card $6.5million us dollars.*

*Thanks
MR. John Max*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam