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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Gilbert Lukeman <lukeman004@msn.com>
Reply-To: <gilbertlukeman.busi@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:40:40 +0000
Subject: FROM: Auditor: Gilbert Lukeman.



FROM: Auditor: Gilbert Lukeman.
GROUP AUDIT FOR INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS DIVISION
STANDARD TRUST BANK,
ACCRA GHANA.

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

RE: TRANSFER OF £10,000,000.00 (TEN MILLION POUNDS TO YOUR ACCOUNT).
I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business. Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication. However, this correspondence is
unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such. At first I will like to assure you that this transaction is 100% risk and trouble free to both parties.

IN ORDER TO TRANSFER OUT (TEN MILLION POUNDS STERLINGS) FROM OUR BANK HERE IN AFRICA. THE FUND FOR TRANSFER IS OF CLEAN ORIGIN. THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS A FOREIGNER, A program leader who was believed to acquire the fund through his secret Crude Oil deal with the Former IRAQI Government. The deceased died with all the members of his family in an auto-accident in JUNE 23, 2005 without a WILL. The amount involved is (£10, 000,000.00) (TEN POUNDS STERLINGS].

I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY FOREIGNER WHOM I CAN TRUST, I KNOW THAT THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE DON'T KNOW OURSELVES BEFORE, BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE BUSINESS. I CONTACT YOU BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NOT LET ME DOWN ONCE THE FUND GOES INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

Let me hear from you urgently by Email for more details.

Warmest regards,
Gilbert Lukeman
Auditor General, Standard Trust Bank Ghana.
Email: gilbertlukeman.busi@msn.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam