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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.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "this mail will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +2348055120408 (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.
  • royalchambers2200@yahoo.com.cn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • williams_c_madu@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: =?gb2312?q?Madu=20Williams?= <royalchambers2200@yahoo.com.cn>
Reply-To: williams_c_madu@sify.com
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:42:51 +0800 (CST)
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT AND URGENT


ÎÒÓÐÒ»¸öеĵçÓʵØÖ·ÁË£¡ÄúÏÖÔÚ¿ÉÒÔ·¢µç×ÓÓʼþ¸øÎÒµ½£ºroyalchambers2200@yahoo.com.cn

VERY IMPORTANT AND URGENT


Sir/Madam,


I know this mail will come to you as a surprise being aware that we have not met or had any business transactions in the past that will warrant my writing you .



My name is barrister Williams C. Madu, I am a senior advocate of the supreme court of Nigeria (SAN). I am the legal representative to one of the Directors in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on receiving this mail,i would like you to take the content seriously and treat as confidential.


You may not be aware that in the recent past, the federal government of Nigeria through the central bank of Nigeria ordered all the operating banks in Nigeria to re-capitalise their shareholders base to the tune of Twenty five billion Naira (#25 billion) or have their licences withdrawn from them. This ultimatum elasped on the 31st day of december 2005.After the deadline,out of the 89 banks in Nigeria, it was only 25 of them that were able to make it either through merger acquisition or public offers.


The reason for my writing you is that the ceo/major shareholder of one of the failed banks whose name I have decided to keep secret in collaboration with the director in charge of re-capitalisation in the central bank of Nigeria whom I am representing have decided to transfer into a foreign account the sum of $50 million dollars for their personal use from the account of the failed bank.


The basic information that you must know in this transaction is that:


1). We intend to present you or your company as a front to prepare the necessary approvals needed for the sucessful transfer of the funds.


2). The necessary financial odligations that will affect the transaction will be taken care of here with the bank, the only thing you will be required to do, is to receive the funds which we shall inform you of the proceedure once you have indicated your willingness to be part of this transaction.


If you are willing to be part of this transaction, kindly get in touch with me through my private telephone number as shown above or the stated email for more details.


Yours Sincerely,


Barr. Williams C. Madu.

ROYAL CHAMBERS

plot 26 asso.Avenue

Victoria Island

Lagos Nigeria

Tel:234-805-512-0408

Email:williams_c_madu@yahoo.com



- Madu Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam