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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 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)
  • "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.
  • +2348023129987 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 02:59:57 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT


Letter of Business Proposal

I am. Dr.Hammed Atiku the former General
Manager of African Bank Plc,456 Broad Street Lagos Nigeria. I want to inquire from you
if you can handle this transaction for mutual benefits/life
opportunity for you and me. (30% for you, 60% for me and 10% to cover up any
expenses that maybe incured during the process of carryout the
transaction.)

The transaction is about assisting me as my foreign counterpart to
enable me to present you as the Beneficiary of the $37.2million dollars
left by our late deceased foreign customer who died in a BEVILLE plane crash
with his family (Mr. Donald M.Bentiez) since Nov 27th 2007 From Lagos to Abuja Nigeria.
The Fund is currently in a suspense account awaiting claim, since the
time the bank made a public notice that they are ready to release
this fund to any of his relative abroad.
I will give you more details about the transaction when I receive your affirmative response via my email if you are intrested,

Meanwhile send me this Requirement for the proccedure of onward transfer to you account in your country:

(1) Names:
(2) Address:
(3) Country:
(4) Your Tel / Fax:
(5) Office Address:
(6) Age:
[7]Your scan copy of your driving license.
(8) Occupation:

I will get back to you, before we proceed to the next step.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

Dr. Mr Hammed Atiku +2348023129987

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam