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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found 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.
  
• 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.
  • dr.ignatius234@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Ignatius Imala" <dr.ignatius2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.ignatius234@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:40:03 -0500
Subject: From: Dr. Ignatius Imala

From: Dr. Ignatius Imala,
Director, Debit Card Dep’t.
Special Payment Scheme
Central Bank of Nigeria
EMAIL:dr.ignatius234@yahoo.co.uk

Attn: Contractor,

YOUR PAYMENT VIA HSBC-VISA DEBIT CARD

Dear Friend,

This is to inform you that due to the numerous fraudulent activities of some
government officials here, the presidency has directed that your long over
due payment now be finally settled through this newly inaugurated special
payment scheme.

In this payment scheme, your payment is to be programmed into an HSBC VISA
CARD ACCOUNT; this is a Central Bank of Nigeria new working relationship
with HSBC London, which was put in place to curb incidents of fraud. In this
said arrangement, your payment shall be uploaded into a HSBC VISA CARD that
will enable you either to download your payment at any ATM machine or at
your local bank account.

However, for the purpose of proper verification of your identity, among
other relevant information and release of your VISA CARD to you, it is
important you contact the office of the director, debit card Dep’t. Special
payment at the above listed address.

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Ignatius Imala
Director, Banking Supervisor
Debit Card Dep’t
(Special Payment Scheme)
Central Bank of Nigeria

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam