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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: Executive Governor Central Bank <central_bank_governo@terra.com.mx>
Date: Tue, 08 Aug 2006 14:20:43 +0200
Subject: payment is US$10,500,000.00 million


THE DESK OF THE
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR.
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,
CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS,
NIGERIA.

ATTN: Honorable Beneficiary.
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT / NO: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009
From the records of outstanding contractors/beneficiaries due for payment with
the Federal Government of Nigeria, your name/company was discovered as next on
the list of outstanding beneficiaries who have not yet receive their payments.
I am using this medium to have you notified that your overdue payment is being
processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this
notification letter. Also note that from the
record in my file, your overdue beneficiary payment is US$10,500,000.00 million
dollars (Twelve million, five hundred thousand united state dollars) only, with
the reference payment number of NLAG/FGN/FMF/CBN/B2517/99.
As a matter of urgency, you are to sincerely reconfirm to me if this is in line
with what you have in your records and also reconfirm to me the following
listed below for immediate expedition of action on your forwarded payment files.
1. full names and address.
2. presently occupation/position.
3. Your phone/fax numbers, for ease and merit reach.
As soon as all of these information are received, your overdue payment will be
made to you via certified bank draft or wired telegraphically into your
designated bank account directly from Central Bank of Nigeria (C.B.N) via correspondence bank Europe and fiduciary agent in Spain and a copy of your payment transfer slip will be given to you for your bank confirmation.
As a result of the on-going drive of the Federal Government to update its books
and clear overdue payments to all rightful beneficiaries/heirs, I strongly
recommend that you promptly respond to this immediate payment notification
letter and if you are receiving this message on error, do humbly get back to me
immediately.
Thank you,
Prof. Charles C. Soludo
Executive Governor.
Central Bank
of Nig. (CBN)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam