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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +2348058476539 (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.
  • jwilliams11110@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: jwilliams11110@yahoo.it
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:32:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: TRANSFER AND INVESTMENT


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



- Dear Sir, RE: TRANSFER AND INVESTMENT Compliments of the day.Kindly allow me use this medium to introduce my humble self to you which I know will come to you as a surprise. I am Engr. John Williams one of the Engineers that worked with the Federal Government of Nigeria with others Contractors in completion of the Niger/Delta Road Constructions in the Year 2001 and now Chairman of a special task force in charge of the sales of petroleum products in Nigeria.My office monitors the sales and lifting of crude oil and petroleum product by foreign dealers.After completion of the Niger Delta Road Constructions in the year 2001,the Federal Government of Nigeria were unable to pay the foreign contractors because many of them were kidnapped by militants that operate in Niger/Delta area within the completion of the contract 2001/2002.I want to inform you that there is a new development presently as there is new system of Government here-in Nigeria,the good news is that unpaid funds to both Local and Foreign contractors are now been paid. With the information I have, all the Local contractors have been issued a contract Cheque and they have all received their payment via the Central Bank of Nigeria.Due to the selfish and greedy acts of some Officials that worked with the Federal Ministry Of Works And Transport as of the year 2002, deleted all the addresses, telephone and email contacts of the Foreign Engineers /contractors that executed major road construction that year just to divert their contract payment knowing that must of them where killed during the attack by the militants.Those that carried these act have been caught and justice has taken against them. As a senior Engineer that has worked several years with the Federal Government of Nigeria, I have been assigned to search for any of the Foreign Engineers/contractor that worked in the year 2001/2002 so that their over due contract of $32,000,000.00 Thirty Two Million United States Dollars could be paid. I have tried several means to contact any member of the Foreign contractor but to no avail, hence I have decided to contact you via internet so that we can work together to claim the over due contract payment of $32m Even if you are not a contractor,I can present you to the Ministry as the representative of the foreign contractor since there is no clear identification of them anymore. This transaction will be held legitimately as there is no need for you to exercise fear and it is 100% risk free. I will like you to do contact me as soon as you receive this mail.I intend to invest our share of the sum in business with your knowledge and past experience.I await your reply on your participation as time is of great essence as you send the following:YOUR NAME,YOUR FULL ADDRESS,YOUR AGE,YOUR MOBILE PHONE NUMBERS TO REACH YOU,YOUR OCCUPATION,POSITION AND YOUR IDENTIFICATION ID:Do keep it confidential and reply me immediately through this email below.:jwilliams11110@yahoo.it .Regards,Engr. John Williams Email: jwilliams11110@yahoo.it TELE: 234-805-8476539 NB:Go through this website to have an insight of Niger/Delta Area Of Nigeria with this link ::: http://nddc.gov.ng/The%20NDR.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam