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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:

• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • philip@cooperation.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3bphilip@cooperation.net

Fraud email example:

From: "OKAFOR PHILIP" <charlesokafor@student.com>
Reply-To: engineer@cooperation.net
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:17:04 -0700
Subject: REGARDS


ENGR CHARLES OKAFOR PHILIP,
NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION.
FALOMO OFFICE COMPLEX,
IKOYI - LAGOS.
EMAIL;philip@cooperation.net <EMAIL%3Bphilip@cooperation.net>


REQUEST FOR URGENT ACCOUNT


I am ENGR.CHARLES OKAFOR a director in the project and planning department
of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),I head a seven man
Tenders Board Committee in charge of contract award and Payment approvals.I
came to know of you in my search for a reliable and reputable person To
handle a very confidential transaction,which involves the transfer
of a huge sum of money to your Bank account.There were series of contracts
executed by a consortium of Multinationals in the oil industry in favour of
the (NNPC) among which were;
1) The expansion of Pipeline network within Nigeria for crude oil and
downstream products distribution and subsequent evacuation - US$2 Billion.
2) Contract for Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of various
Refineries in the country.
3) The construction of Storage Tanks for Petroleum Product
(Depots)-US$94 Million.The original value of of these contracts were
deliberately over invoiced to the tuned of One Hundred and forty Million
United States Dollars US$140,000,000.00) which has recently been approved
and now ready To be transferred. However the companies that actually
executed the aforementioned contract have been fully paid and the projects
officially commissioned.

I am writing you so that YOU will assist us with a foreign bank account
where we can pay the money into.We have prepare every documentations that
will assist you or your company as contractor that execute a contract with
our ministry.The money will be released to your account within short period
of days after i have filed in all your informations which you will
provide.I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as
possible via my contacts above with the following information:
(1) YOUR FULL NAME....................................
(2) HOME OR OFFICE ADDRESS................................
(3) YOUR PHONE & FAX NUMBER...................
(4) BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS...................................
I look forward to your quick reply so i can furnish you with more
informations.
BEST REGARDS,


ENGR CHARLES OKAFOR PHILIP

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam