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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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.
  • chrisofala10@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?UTF-8?Q?chrisofala10?= <chrisofala10@o2.pl>
Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 15:22:29 +0200
Subject: VERY CONFIDENTIAL


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS-NIGERIAGood day,

Accept the assurances of my highest regards and esteem. Before I introduce my proposal, I wish to assure you that I GUARANTEE TO FUND THIS TRANSACTION BUT I NEED TO BE ASSURED OF YOUR WILLINGNESS AND HONEST TO CARRY OUT ISSUED DIRECTIVES TO THE LATER. At no point in the course of this transaction
are you expected to give out any money whatsoever to anyone directly or remotely connected to this offer.

I am Dr. Chris Ofala Director Foreign Remittance Department of the Central Bank. We have in our bank funds from over-invoice/Inflated contract payments which I would like to remit to your country if I have your authorization. Please note the contract in question were executed by some firms from the United States. The original contractors has however received their payments in full. With your kind consent, I want these funds transfered to your country as soon as you provide the needed information to enable us complete this transaction.I will let you know exactly how much is involved only when I hear from you. In case you are willing to assist me with the repatriation of this fund, kindly email the following:
1) Telephone/fax numbers,
2) Mailing/residential address,
3) Age, sex,
4) Current occupation as soon as possible.I await to hear from you.
Always contact me on my private email address : chrisofala10@myway.com
Kind regards
Dr. Chris Ofala

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam