419 scam: "interstate"<interstatelot002@indiatimes.com> NIA

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- 2348125519819
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.
- johnadamsid17@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "interstate" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <interstakelot01@indiatimes.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 14:18:04 -0600
Subject: NIA

Dear Friend

I am Dr John Adams, the accounting officer working in the payment and Audit
department of the national Investigation Agency here in Lagos Nigeria. This
office is in charge of all investigation regarding the collection of failed
payment from the Government of Nigeria.

Your payment file is presently with me and i have personally discovered that it
will take you some time and money to claim this payment, therefore i have made
up my mind to proposed this small transaction to you which will enable you earn some money and be able to pay for all charges militating against the collection of your former payment.

If you assist me to complete this transaction, i assure you that i will assist
you to receive your own payment. Their is an left over payment fund from last
year allocation,and i intend to transfer only a fraction of about USD$1,000,000
to your account. All you need to do is provide me with an account and send us a
promissory note to deduct all charges from the fund. though you will be required to only register this promissory note with the Justice department.

After the registration, the fund is as good as have gone into your account. The promissory note will state that you will pay all charges to Central Bank of Nigeria as soon as the payment arrives into your account plus interest that will accrued.

Please call me up on this number: 234-81-25519819 for discussion on the
modalities and what will be your share.

Yours sincerely,
Mr John Adams.
Accounting officer
National Investigation agency (NIA)
johnadamsid17@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam