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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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Eric zaki <foreignpamentdpt@freesurf.fr>
Reply-To: ericzaki@walla.com
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 17:05:41 +0100
Subject: URGENT NOTICE .


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA
FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
ATTN: HONURABLE CONTRACTOR ,
YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT!!!
PAYMENT.CONTRACT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/008.
Our Ref: PYT-PED/FGN/NNPC-1024.

I Wish to inform you that I have received unconditional instruction from the
presidency federal republic of Nigeria to release part payment of
$10mUSD(Ten million united states dollars).into your nominated bank account.
Your name and company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding
contractors who have not received their payments. Also note that from my
record in my file your outstanding contract payment was not $10m USD but the
Government decided to compensate few foreigners base on the promise our
president gave to the united nation on anti-corruption. This is a huge sum
which can it be broken down into smaller blocks? Please re-confirm to me if
this is inline with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me
the followings,
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
As soon as this informations are received through this emailadress(ericzaki@walla.com ),
we shall foward it to our correspondent bank
abroad for immediate release of your funds.

Yours sincerly,
Eric zaki
Foreign payment department
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam