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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned 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 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.
  • +2348024607407 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: DEBT PAYMENT COMMITTEE <payment_committee@nigeria-gov.org>
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:55:44 +0200
Subject: DEBT PAYMENT COMMITTEE

DEBT PAYMENT COMMITTEE
FED. SECRETARIATE COMPLEX,
P.M.B 7206 WUSE ABUJA.
TEL/FAX: +234 9 272 1104
EMAIL: payment_committee@nigeria-gov.org

Dear sir/madam,

This is to officially inform you that ATM card payment worth Three Million Dollars ($3Million USD) has been credited in your favor in bid to compensate you on your un-paid contract/inheritance payment for the final phase of this fiscal Year 2008. Your personal identification is ATM-6900.

You are advice to contact the verification/payment officer below;

CONTACT PERSON: MR. RASHEED LAWAL
OFFICE OF ACCOUNTANT GENERAL
PAYMENT VERIFICATION DEPT.,
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FMF).
LAGOS - NIGERIA.
TEL: +234 802 4607407
EMAIL: rasheedlawal@fmfng.net

Ensure that you furnish him with the following for personal verification data for immediate processing of your payment:

Full Name:................
Delivery Address:.........
Country:..................
Occupation:...............
Phone Number:.............
Fax Number:...............
Age:......................
sex:......................

NOTE:- You are also required to send to the verification/payment officer a means of personal Identification, which should be a scan copy of your Driver's License or International Passport for proper verification and authentication.

Regards,

SENETOR IDRISU AIG-BADA
DEBT PAYMENT COMMITTEE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam