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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)
  • "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 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.
  • obagho_47@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "IGHO OBARO" <obagho_74@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 02:06:29 +0000
Subject: RE:HELLO

NIGERIA PORTS AUTHORITY
LAGOS PORT COMPLEX,
APAPA QUAYS.

>From the desk of: MR. IGHO OBARO.

Dear Sir,

RE: URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Although this proposal might come to you as a surprise, since it is from
someone you do not know or have seen before,but based on recommendations,I
gathered from a very reliable source here in
Nigeria.
I am the director,fund coordinator of the Finance Contract Department of
Nigeria Ports Authority.The crux of this letter is that the finance /
contract department of the NPA deliberatly over-inflated the contract values
of various
contract awarded.
In the course of disbursement, my office was able to track down the sum of
US$23.5M as the over invoiced sum. This money is now floating in the NPA
domicilliary account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). I and my
colleagues now want to quickly tranfer this fund to a safe nominated foreign
account for possible investment abroad.We are not allowed as a matter of
government policy to operate any foreign account because of our status as
civil / public servants.
Hence the need to solicit for your full banking details, to enable us
transfer this money into your account.
Upon your acceptance of this proposal,we have also agreed on a sharing
ration:
1. 25% for you as the account owner

2. 65% for I and my colleagues

3. 10% will be set aside to defray all incidental expenses both locally and
internationally during the course of this transaction.
Furthermore,we shall be coming over to your country when the money is
finally in your account and we shall be relying on your advise as regards to
investment of our share. be informed that this business is genuine and 100%
safe considering the high powered government
officials involved.

Send to my E-mail address:obagho_47@yahoo.com the following information:
1. Your company name and address, bank name, address and account
number.
2. Your telephone and fax number for effective communication
This is to effect the swift transfer of this fund into your account in less
than seven (7) working days.
Contact me strictly on my email address,while looking forward to a healthy
business relationship with you.

Yours faithfully,

MR. IGHO OBARO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam