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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:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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 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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +2348058518919 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • infomyofficen01@yahoo.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • info.financeministry@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?finance=20ministry?= <infomyofficen01@yahoo.com.br>
Reply-To: info.financeministry@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 06:00:58 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT FUNDS TRANSFER CONFIRMATIONS.


Meu novo endereço de e-mailAgora você pode me contactar através do e-mail: infomyofficen01@yahoo.com.br



- FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE,FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIALagos Control office: Alagbon, Ikoyi Road,P. M. B. 80144, Victoria Island, Lagos.Reply To; info.financeministry@gmail.com,Attn: Beneficiary,Your Over Due Contract/Inheritance Funds.This is to notify you that your over due contract/inheritance funds has been gazette to be released, via key telex transfer (KTT) -direct wire transfer to you or through any of our correspondent bank nominated by the senate committee for foreign over due fund transfer. Meanwhile, a woman came to my office few days ago with a letter, claiming to be your true representative. Here is her information for you to confirm to this office if this woman is truly from you or not so that the Federal Government will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account.Name: Mrs. Janet White,Bank Name: Citi Bank,Bank Address: Arizona , USA .Account Number: 6503809428.Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this woman is from you. You are requested to fill and send this information for verifications purposes so that your fund valued U.S$6.2million dollars will be remitted into your nominated bank account as follow:(1) Your Full Name And Address:2) Your Age And Marital Status:(3) Your Occupation:(4) Your Telephone/Fax Number:(5) Your Nationality;As soon as we receive the above requested information, we will commence with all necessary procedures in other to remit your money/funds into your account.However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mrs. White, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today. We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you.Treat as very urgent while you call my cell phone (+234-805 851 8919) to enable us track Mrs. Janet White down if she is not sent by you. Your attention is needed immediately.Best regards,Hon. Mr. Shamsudden Usman (OFR)Federal Ministry of Finance,Email; info.financeministry@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam