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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "MIKETONBRA ALAMIYESEIGHA" <miketonbraalamiyeseigha2008@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:48:40 +0100
Subject: CRY FOR HELP


DEAREST ONE,

MY NAME IS MIKE TONBRA ALAMIYESEIGHA THE FIRST SON OF MR D.S.P
ALAMIEYESEIGHA WHO WAS ONCE THE EXCUTIVE GORVERNOR OF BAYELSA
STATE IN NIGERIA, WHO IS NOW IN DETENTION OVER MONEY LAUNDRING,
HE WAS ONCE CAUGHT IN LONDON AND HE JUMP BAIL AND CAME BACK TO
NIGERIA, EVER SINCE THEN HE HAS BEEN IN DETENTION, SO PLEASE SIR
AM NOT USING MY CONDITION NOW TO DISTURB YOU BUT RATHER I'M
USING IT TO SOLICITATE FOR YOUR KINDLY HELP, BY ASKING YOU TO
COME TO MY AID, BY YOU WILL NEVER REGRET ANY OF HELPING WHICH
YOU EXTEND TO MY FAMILY, SIR IN THE FIRST PLACE DON'T BE
DISTURB ON HOW I GOT YOUR MAIL, I KNOW IT SOUND STRANGE BUT I
PLEAD WITH YOU TO TAKE IT FROM ME IT WILL NOT COST YOU ANY HARM
BUT GOOD.

MY MAIN AIM OF WRITING THIS PAGE TO YOU IS TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT THEIR IS THIS AMOUNTH OF MONEY KEPT IN A BANK HERE IN
NIGERIA BY MY FATHER AND HE WANT'S THE MONEY TO BE TRANSFER
ABROAD BEFORE THE GOVERMENT OF THIS NATION WILL CLAMP ON IT,
BECAUSE THE FAMILY LIVELYHOOD IS BASE ON THIS MONEY, THE AMOUNT
IS ($60,000,000) SIXTY MILLION DOLLARS AND THE PERCETAGE TO YOU
IS 30% PERCENT AND 10% FOR CHARITY WORKS, SIR I WANT THIS TO
BE CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE SAID FUND IS BEEN TRANSFER TO YOUR
ACOOUNT.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN AND REMAIN BLESSED.
MR MIKE.T. ALAMIEYESEIGHA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam