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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "million us 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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +2348028947755 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: frank_eze20@live.com
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:41:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOOD NEWS


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:david7james7766@yahoo.com.co



- Dear Sir/Ma, I'm Engr.JAMES EZE. manager of Prudential Insurance Company. I have the courage to Crave indulgence for this important business believing that you will never let me down either now or in the future.Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication. Some years ago, an American Mining consultant/ contractor with the Prudential Insurance Company,made a numbered time (fixed)deposit for twelve calendar months, valued $12M.USD (TWELVE MILLION US DOLLARS) in an account. On maturity,The Insurance Company sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, The Company sent another reminder and finally his contract employers,the Prudential Insurance Company wrote to inform the bank that he died without MAKING A WILL, and all attempts by the American Embassy to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore, made further investigation and discovered that the beneficiary was an immigrant from Jamaica and only recently obtained American citizenship. He did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank deposit paper work. This money total amount$12M.USD( TWELVE MILLION US DOLLARS)is still in our company as dormant Account. No one will ever come forward to claim it, and according to Nigerian Insurance policy, after some years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if the account owner is certified dead. This is the situation, and my proposal is that I am looking for a foreigner who will stand in as the next of kin to beneficiary, and OPEN a Bank Account abroad to facilitate the transfer of this money. This is simple, all you have to do is to OPEN an account anywhere in the world and send me its detail for me to arrange the proper money transfer paperwork, and facilitate the transfer.After successful conclussion of this transaction, we shall share the money 50-50 (50% for you and 50% for me). There is no risk at all, and all the paper work for this transaction will be done by me using my position and connections in the Company in Nigeria. This business transaction is guaranteed.If you are interested, please reply immediately through my personal email sending thefollowing details: (1) Your Full Name/Address (2) Your Private Telephone/fax Number. Please observe the utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest some of my share in your country. I look forward to your earliest reply. Yours, Engr. JAMES EZE, frank_eze20@live.com this is my unmber +2348028947755 Thank you

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam