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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
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• 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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Tunde Lemo" <atm_offic24@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: atm_offic1@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 03:01:43 +0300
Subject: ATM CARD PAYMENT FOR FUND BENEFICIARIES.


SIR,


THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED YOUR
CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS FUND HAS NOT BEEN PAID TO
YOU AND THE DELAY OF YOUR PAYMENT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE
OBLIGATIONS GIVEN TO YOU IN RESPECT OF THE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT.


SECONDLY WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE
NON-OFFICIALS IN THE BANK, ALL IN YOUR ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE
FUND TO YOU. WE WISH TO ADVISE YOU THAT SUCH AN ILLEGAL ACT LIKE THIS HAVE
TO BE STOPPED IF YOU WISHES TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT. WE HAVE DECIDED TO BRING
A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM.


RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH OUR SWIFT CARD PAYMENT
CENTER, THAT IS THE LATEST INSTRUCTION BY CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. THIS CARD
CENTER WILL SEND YOU AN ATM CARD WHICH YOU WILL USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY
IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, BUT THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN
WITHDRAW IS TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY, SO IF YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR
FUND THIS WAY PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CONTACTING THE CARD PAYMENT CENTER AND
ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:


1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD TO (P.O. BOX NOT
ACCEPTABLE)
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY


THE ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER HAS BEEN MANDATED TO ISSUE OUT $2.5 MILLION
DOLLARS AS PART PAYMENT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR 2008. ALSO FOR YOUR INFORMATION
YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S) OR
OFFICE(S). THIS IS TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN FINALIZING YOUR PAYMENT.


DR. TUNDE LEMO.
DEPUTY GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
IN-CHARGE OF ATM CARD PAYMENT FOR FUND BENEFICIARIES.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam