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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (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.
• 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.
  • +2348037444710 (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.
  • drpaulhanson@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "drpaul hanson" <drpaulhanson12@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:33:38 +0300
Subject: GOODDAY


* *

*From: The Desk of Mr. Paul Hanson.
Auditing and Accounting Unit.
Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
#36 Marina Street, Lagos, Nigeria.
Telephone: +23480-37444710
E-mail: drpaulhanson@yahoo.com

Greetings,

With due respect and great pleasure, I wish to solicit and crave your
indulgence to make this project request which I hope will not come to you as
a surprise, hence I plead for your pardon. *

*I am Mr. Paul Hanson, in the Auditing and Accounting Unit, Foreign
operations Department Union Bank of Nig, PLC #36 Marina Lagos Island and I
have an urgent and confidential transaction which you might be interested
in;

On April 14th, 2004 precisely, Engr.Steve Moore made a (fixed) deposit of
US$15.500.000.00(Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) in my
branch. On maturity up till now he never came back for it, and finally we
discovered from his contract employee Empire Construction Corporation (ECC)
that Late Engr.Steve Moore died in an automobile accident. On further
investigations it was clear that he died without making a will. All attempts
by the Australian to trace his next of kin were fruitless. *

*According to Nigerian banking law, after five years,the money will be
reverted into the account of the Nigerian Government. That is, if the
account owner is certified death and nobody comes forward to claim it.
I therefore, solemnly request to present you as the next of kin/ beneficiary
of this whole sum. This is very simple and will be done legally. I am using
my position and connections in the bank here to do the entire document work
for the transfer of this fund into your bank account. We shall also employ
the services of a reputable attorney/lawyer who will obtain all necessary
documents and letter of administration in your favor for this transfer. This
transaction is 100%risk free guaranteed.

As you reply, I will like you to furnish me with the following informations:

(1)Your full name and contact address,
(2)Your full address and telephone number,
(3)Your date of birth and occupation.

This information will enable me prepare the necessary documents in your
favour as might be required by the bank.
Finally, give me your words that you will be faithful to me in this
transaction to keep this proposition in absolute confidentiality and trust
then, we can work out the details. I am just doing this to save the life of
my cancer dying Dad and also this will make great changes to our lives
positively and can as well land me into a big trouble if a great care is not
taking.
The money will be shared in the ratio of 60% and 40% that is for me and you
respectively.

I await your urgent reply. *

*Mr. Paul Hanson.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam