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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found 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.
  • +2348033287551 (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.
  • charlestusus002@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "charlestusus ego" <charlestusus002@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 14:17:58 +0100
Subject: Greetings.

FROM THE DESK OF:MR. CHARLES PAUL EGO
OFFICE ADDRESS:PLOT 721B MACPHERSON CLOSE VICTORIA-ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
PHONE:234-80-33287551
E-MAIL:charlestusus002@yahoo.co.uk

Attention:

Private & Confidential Business Proposition

Please I introduce myself: I am newly appointed Principal Accountant with
the Department Of Agriculture & Land Affairs in Lagos and have decided to
send forth this proposal to you after due and thorough deliberation.

Recently I was briefed in confidence, of the existence of some fund in the
tune of USD4Million (Four Million United States Dollars). This fund is
floating in the government suspense account from over-invoiced contract
payment approved since 2002 and was discovered by the Auditor General
appointed recently to audit the Department Of Agriculture & Land Affairs
with regards to the payments to foreign contractors. My partners and I that
have the knowledge of the existence of this fund decided to get these funds
out from the country if possible with your assistance for our own personal
use.

In recognition of the investment opportunities available in your country, I
now seek your assistance to stand as the original beneficiary of this fund,
for an easy transfer of this over- invoiced amount. For obvious reason none
of us can present himself as the beneficiary of the funds as all of us are
government civil servants and therefore not permitted to operate overseas
accounts of such magnitude.

At this juncture I want you to present your firm as the original beneficiary
of the above fund to enable us put claim to it. I will use my office and
that of my colleagues who are involved in this deal to facilitate a hitch
free payment, because all the necessary arrangements have been made

I am waiting for your immediate response as we have limited time to do all
the paper works and transfer this money to your nominated account. In your
reply, I would explain to you in detail, how the transaction will be done
and also the percentage of the total sum that we are ready to give you for
your participation in this deal.

Contact me through my private Email Address if you are interested. Also
forward me with your private telephone & fax numbers & email for
confidential correspondence. You should also bear in mind that this
transaction is totally risk-free.

Best Regards,

Mr.Charles Ego

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam