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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:
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • senjohnmbata@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "John azut Ambata" <john_azuta_mbata@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 17:41:17 +0000
Subject: Your Urgent Attention

Please excuse my communication to you via email it is due to the
confidentiality of this message.

INTRODUCTION:
My name is Senator John Azuta Mbata a senator of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the present Chairman, Senate Comittee on contract awards. I
have a genuine project proposal which I thought I should introduce to you
for your consideration.

SOURCE OF FUNDS:
In March 2001 a Russian businesman Mr. Nikolai Vostov signed and was awarded
a maintenance contract by the government of Nigeria for the Turn Around
Maintenance (TAM) of two government oil refineries valued at the cost of
$12.5 million US dollars. The contract was successfully completed in
September 2002 and few weeks after the contract was completed Mr. Nikolai
Vostov was reported to have died in an auto crash and since his death in
November 2002 there has been no record or trace of his family or business
associate to claim the payment of the contract funds.

YOUR ROLE:
It has been established that Mr. Nikolai Vostov left no trace of his family
or any of his business associates and it is for this reason I would like to
front you as the business associate of Mr. Nikolai Vostov whose company
executetd the maintenance contract in other for you to claim the payment of
the contract funds. This is an opportunity for the two of us to make some
good money if only you will consider this project proposal. You are to get
35% of the total funds as your share, while I get 65% and then 5% will be
set aside for any unforseen expenses. I intend to invest my share of the
funds in your country through your advise and will leave Nigeria to settle
abroad with my family as soon as the deal is concluded.

It is a very simple process that will take a maximum of ten (10) working
days and the $12.5 million dollars will be successfully wired into your
nominated bank account via the Central Bank of Nigeria without any trace. I
shall tell you how and will give you further information about the deal when
you get back to me via my private email address (senjohnmbata@yahoo.co.uk)

Thanks for your attention.

Yours truly,

Senator John Azuta Mbata

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam