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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • +2348063103818 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "alfred daniels" <info.ng@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: info4real@sifymail.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:21:22 -0700
Subject: Attention The Beneficiary,


Attention The Beneficiary,

I have been watching with keen interest on what have been going on
concerning your outstanding funds and the reason why you have not been able
to
receive the funds up till this moment.

I wish to inform you that a man named Mr. Werner Kuhn came to my office to
make claims of the funds and solicited through his attorney in Nigeria in
the person of Barr. Michael Nwachukwu for an immediate change of all your
relevant information's prior to the transfer of the funds into his alleged
account accompanied with a competent affidavit claiming that you had granted
him a POWER OF ATTORNEY to make claims of the excess sum to the tune of
$17.7 million. I personally thwarted the operation and ensured that the fund
was not transferred into his nominated bank account.

Based on this development, I will like to verify from you as the original
beneficiary of the said funds if you actually authorize anyone to act on
your behalf as all relevant documents relating to this fund has been
endorsed by the said individuals. It's very imperative you get back to me as
quickly as possible so as to enable me substantiate before the authorities
that you did not grant anyone power to act on your behalf.

on the other hand, without iota much ado I will like you to respond to this
E-mail immediately and assure me that you will give me 20% of the funds when
transferred into your account successfully and I will see to it that the
funds in question is transferred into your account within 5 working days.
Get back to me right away as I am still in my office, I will need a copy of
your identification i.e international passport or driver's license for
record purposes and I shall E-mail mine to you for perusal.

Yours faithfully,

Senator. Alfred Daniels
Chairman, International Finance Unit,5-Man Action Committee.
Federal Republic of Nigeria .
Direct line 234-80-63103818
Alternative E-mail=info4real@sifymail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam