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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: kingsley okwu <kingsleyokwu2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <johnsonabuah@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:36:28 +0100
Subject: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA



CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIATINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIAISLAND,LAGOS-NIGERIAFROM THE DESK OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNORCENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA(CBN)

YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT .CONTRACT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.

ATT:

OUR RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS DUE FOR PAYMENT,WITH THE FEDERALGOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, YOUR NAME AND COMPANY WAS DISCOVERED AS NEXT ONTHE LIST OF THE OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIRPAYMENTS.
I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS BEING PROCESSED AND WILL BERELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER.ALSO NOTE THAT FROM MY RECORD IN MY FILE YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRACTPAYMENT IS $15.7 MILLION DOLLARS (FIFTEEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED HOUSANDUNITED STATES DOLLARS).
PLEASE RE-CONFIRM TO ME IF THIS IS INLINE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOURRECORD AND ALSO RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS
1) YOUR FULL NAME2) PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE3) COMPANY NAME,4) PROFESSION, AGE5) COPY OF DRIVERS LICENSE I .D.
AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATIONS ARE RECEIVED, YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE TOYOU IN A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT FROM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA . YOU MUSTCALL ME ON MY DIRECT NUMBER AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER FORA SERIOUS DISCUSSION WITH ME AND ALSO GET BACK TO ME AT ONCE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

MR. KINGSLEY ABUAHDEPUTY GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam