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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:
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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:
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • obigwe02@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Obigwe Austin <obigwe02@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: obi236gwe@rocketmail.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:13:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT CO-OPERATION NEEDED


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: obigwe02@rocketmail.com



- Attention: Sir / Madam, Payment Clearance Order No: ESDC/NG.TRXX/USD9.6M/2008. It Is My Great Pleasure To Contact You. I Am Mr. Nnandi Obigwe, Manager Union Homes Securities Plc. We Discovered The Sum Of Nine Million Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars, Belonging To One Of Our Late Depositors Eng. Butch R. Miguel; He Died In A Plane Crash. An Effort To Locate His Immediate Family Prove Abortive And It’s Quite A Long Time Since Nobody Came To Claim The Fund. In A Recent Meeting Of The Board And Management Of This Home; It Was Resolved To Declare This Deposit As Bonus; Hence I Decided To Consult You And To Present You As Next Of Kin To The Late Depositor, Irrespective Of Your Family Names. As An Insider, I Have All It Takes To Secure This Deposit Into Your Personal Bank Account For Our Mutual Benefit And Be Assured There Is No Risk Involved In Claiming Of This Fund. Please, If This Arrangement Interest You, Do Forward To Me Almost Immediately The Following Information: (1) Your Full Name And Address, Your Personal Identifications (2) Your Private Telephone Contact For Prompt Communication, (3) Your Banking Co-Ordinates And Other Necessary Information. Mail Me Your Reply Strictly Based On Your Interest. I Look Forward To Hearing From You. Yours Faithfully, Mr..Nnandi Obigwe

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam