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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:
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "outstanding contractors" (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)
  • "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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  • +2348050380903 (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.
  • tundelemo_2001@web2mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: tundelemo12@freenet.de
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:08:37 +0200
Subject: IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF A CONTRACT PAYMENT


FROM THE DESK OF DEPUTY GOVERNOR.
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).
GARKI
ABUJA.
TELL: 234-805-0380903.
please reply me through this email
adddress:
tundelemo_2001@web2mail.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF A
CONTRACT PAYMENT WORTH OFUS$35MILLION WITH CONTRACT NUMBER #:
MAV/FGN/MIN/2003.


Dear,

From the records of outstanding
contractors due for payment with the Federal government of Nigeria,i
want to include your name on the list as the outstanding contractors who
have not received their payment.

I wish to inform you that the payment
is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to
this letter. Also note that from the record in my file the outstanding
contract payment is US$35 Million Dollars (Thirty Five Million United
States Dollars) only.

I am aware that you did not execute any contract
with Nigeria Government, but based on my position as the Board Director
of (CBN) I will assist you in getting the funds into your account as the
contractor who executed the contract in order for us to benefit on the
funds.

In view of this development I seek your assistance to receive
the said fund into your account based on your promptly response by
following my instructions. It is 100 per cent risk free both now and in
future. More
importantly, the sharing method of the funds will be
50-50.
Therefore, if you are interested to work hand to hand with me so
that we can get the funds out from the central bank of nigeria kindly
confirm to me the following:

1) Your full name and address

2) Phone,
fax and mobile #.

3) Company\'s name, position and address.

4)
Profession, age and marital status.

5) Your banking coordinates.

As
soon as this information is received, the payment will be made to you by
Swift Wire Transfer OR Certified Bank Draft by Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN) Call me on my direct number as soon as you receive this letter for
more details.

Best Regards,
Mr.Tunde Lemo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam