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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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. )
  • "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +2348027505259 (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.
  • johnbayonigeria@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Of Nigeria Federal High Court" <fhcon100@e-mail.ua>
Reply-To: johnbayo4inigs16@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 04:22:54 +0100
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary,


FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA.

Attn: Beneficiary,

This is to acknowledge you that your e-mail address was found among the list
of foreigner that have been scammed by Nigerian Fraudster. It might interest
you to know that we have signed an agreement with the UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT during our first meeting this year with our PRESIDENT Commander
In-Chief Federal Republic of Nigeria, ALHAJI UMARUMUSA YAR'ADUA and the FBI
to fight against this and to return all contract funds that has been stolen
and people who has been scammed too.A total sum of($2million) united state
dollars in cash has been set aside for compensation which will be delivered
to your door step by an accredited
courier.(Nigeria Postal service)

Endeavor to contact the chamber in charge which is currently been headed by
Barrister John Bayo esq.You are further advised to deal directly with him
and do what so ever you are asked to do because that is the only way you
will achieve the success in the delivery of
your funds to you as designated:

Name: Barrister John Bayo(esq).
Private E-mail Address:(johnbayonigeria@yahoo.com)
Tel:+2348027505259
For more information on how to make sure your fund is delivered to you, get
back with the below information:

Full Name...................................
Home address................................
Telephone number............................
Occupation........... ......................
Country.....................................
Zip code....................................
Any form of identification of yourself......

Please we demand an urgent response prior to this matter and to work with us
to enable track those Miscreants and send their information to the FBI to
carry out actions in the US immediately because those Miscreants have some
agent all over the country and we are now working with the internet
operation such as, yahoo, AOL,MAIL,the Nigeria police and also the Economic
Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) so that the scam can be eradicated in this
country, hence i want you to follow your fund code which below, which is
given to you by the high court of Nigeria(NG29820FGN). You are to keep
this code for security purposes.

Note that every beneficiary will be responsible for shipping fees which
cannot be deducted from the fund because there is a bond holding the
consignment that stated that only the sole beneficiary of the fund is
permitted to open it after it has been sealed by the foreign payment
department. The shipping fee is only ($90.00usd). Also note that the federal
high Court here will alert the united state bureau and also your state
police immediately your shipment leave the shore of Nigeria so as to avoid
any restriction and problem when the fund get to itsport of destination.

Thanks.

Best Regard,
Federal High Court Of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam