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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +2348079917330 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "ojeifo abraham" <royaldiadem02@she.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:09:40 +0100
Subject: Re:THE SUM OF $10.5M IN A SECURITY VAULT


From:Abraham Ojeifo
Lagos-Nigeria
Tel:+234-8079917330


Dear Friend,

Re:THE SUM OF $10.5M IN A SECURITY VAULT

i wish you top of the day,permit me to make this proposition to you,i am a
branch manager with AFRICAN PETROLEUM(AP)PLC here in nigeria.

In our search for a foreign partner who would help us secure our funds that
has been lodged with a security/finance company in Europe,i was directed to
you by one of your close associates,who has pleaded with me to remain
anonymous for now,pending the successful clearance of the consignment from
the security company.So i urge you to read the proposal carefully.

With my position i have been able to over-invoice contracts awarded by the
govt with regards this arm of govt parastatal to the above tune.The original
contractors have already been paid off,and i in collaboration with some
other top govt functionaries have successfully moved the funds to security
vault in Europe for safe keeping.

So,you might want to ask how do you now come in?the idea is this,as govt
officials we are not expected to keep foreign accounts or own funds of that
magnitude that is why i have been mandated by my other colleagues to help
source for a reliable foreign partner who can help us clear the
consignment,from the security vault as the benficiary of the consignment.

The consignment was deposited as FAMILY TREASURE to remove all forms of
suspicion. All modalities have been worked out for the smooth
transfer/clearance of the funds,it shall take TWO(2)working days for this to
be achieved.
Thus,all i require of you now sir is for you to give me your complete
details i.e.,

YOUR COMPLETE NAME AND ADDRESS TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
So that our lawyer would prepare the necessary documents in your name or
company's.On receipt of your details i shall let you have the contact
details of the officer in charge of the security company so you let him know
when you would be able to go over for the clearance thereof.

We have unanimously agreed that we would give you 25% of the entire sum for
agreeing to partner with us in this transaction. Sir,i wish to also state
here that,this transaction is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL because since we are
still in active service,we do not intend to get into trouble,so if you are
not interested feel free to decline the offer. Thank you for your time.

Please acknowledge receipt of this mail. If you cannot get me on the phone
please do me a favour by sending a text message,as i am usually very
busy.Thanks

Yours Truly,
Abraham Ojeifo

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam