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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
• 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.
  • +2347033206191

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:35:19 +0100
Subject: TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS.


FROM THE DESK OF:
MR ROBERT JOHNSON
DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS.
ATTENTION: SIR

TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS.

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN AZZETED
TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU 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 ARE HER INFORMATIONS:

NAME 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 SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME.
THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR,EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE
COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITTANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND
ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE/FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL
FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.

HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
MRS.WHITE,IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHEN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM
TODAY. YOU WILL HAVE TO CONTACT ME ON THIS ALTERNATIVE MEANWHILE,PLEAES
RE-CONFIRM TO ME IF THE IS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR RECORDS AND
ALSO RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE DETAILS AS FOLLOWINGS:

1) YOUR FULL NAME:
2) PHONE,FAX AND MOBILE NUMBER#:
3) COMPANY NAME,POSITION AND ADDRESS:
4) COPY OF INT'L PASSPOST:
5) YOUR BNAK ACOUNT:

THE ONLY THINGS NEEDED FOR THIS US$15.5 MILLION TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT LESS THAN 48 HOURS ARE AS FOLLOWS;

1) A NEW BANK ACCOUNT DETAIL.
2) AND US$800 FOR THE NORMALIZATION OF THE ACCOUNT IN THE FEDERAL HIGH
COURT.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT PAYMENT. THEREFORE THERE WILL
BE NO BUREAUCRACY OR MISFORTUNE. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE
THIS DEAL WITH ME, YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY ON THE ABOVE TELEPHONE
AND E-MAIL FURNISHING ME WITH YOUR NEW ACCOUNT. ALSO BE INFORMED THAT THIS
TRANSACTION WILL TAKE US JUST 48 HOURS TO ACCOMPLISH. NOTE: All
communication with this office must be authenticated by your asking me to
reconfirm my telephone number, which is +234-70-33-206191. If I fail to
reconfirm it, drop the line and redial until you get me on line. This is to
avoid undue interference by unknown people. This business must be kept
secret


CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.

BEST REGARDS,

MR ROBERT JOHNSON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam