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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (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.
  • odiobello@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Egnr. Odion Bello" <mail@sybonlie.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:47:16 +0100
Subject: RE:TRANSACTION


Dear sir/madam,

My name is Engr.Odion Bello, the director contract award chairman with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on local and foreign contracts. It is my great pleasure to write you this mail with utmost regards/confidentiality. Though I believe it will come to you as surprise since the both parties have not met face to face before.

Further more, this transaction is all about an over-invoiced contract executed by foreign contractors with the Nigeria Government. As a matter of fact, a contract was awarded to a foreign contractor, and after executing the contracts, with my position as the director contract award Chairman I over-invoiced the contract sum to the tune of US$15.5M (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

Sequel to this, I want you to know that this fund is still in the central bank of Nigeria, I want this fund to be transferred to your bank account for our mutual benefit.

This fund has been in the central bank of Nigeria for two years now, and it is under the law of Nigeria Government that any funds in the central bank for three years will be return back to the Government account.

It may also interest you to know that all modalities have been put in place for the smooth transfer of this fund to your nominated bank account. As for the sharing of this fund, I have discussed with my colleagues, whom we came up thus: 30% for you the account owner 70% for I and my colleagues.

I will kindly appreciate to receive your acceptance response in this proposal with due respect through this E-mail:( odiobello@sify.com )

Yours Faithfully,
Engr.Odion Bello.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam