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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +2348062487769 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Equitorial Trust Bank LTD <etbknig000@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <etbk@pc.nu>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 04:38:42 +0000
Subject: FROM:Norris Akabu,


FROM:Norris Akabu,THE: Executive Director (Corporate Resources)TEL: +234-806 248 7769EMAIL:etbk@pc.nu



DEAR SIR/MADAM

FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION, THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF
ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY, CONFIDENTIAL, THOUGH I KNOW THAT A TRANSACTION OF
THIS MAGNITUDE WILL MAKE ANYONE APPREHENSIVE AND WORRIED,BUT I AM ASSURING YOU
THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY. I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU
BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY OF THIS TRANSACTION.
LET ME START BY FIRST INTRODUCING MYSELF PROPERLY TO YOU. I AM MR. NORRIS AKABU,
A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE EQUITORIAL TRUST BANK, I CAME TO KNOW OF YOU IN A
PRIVATE SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENCIAL
TRANSACTION WHICH INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF A HUGE SUM OF MONEY TO A FORIENG
ACCOUNT REQURING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE.

A FOREIGNER AND A CITIZEN OF YOUR COUNTRY, LATE ENGINIEER ROBERTH LAWRENCE, AN
OIL MERCHANT/CONTRACTOR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA UNTIL HIS DEATH
FOUR YEARS AGO, IN A GASTLY AIR CRASH THAT HAPPENED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2002 HERE IN
NIGERIA (ADC AIRLINE) HAD IN HIS DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT WITH US AN EQUIVALENT OF
US$13.5 AS CLOSING BALANCE.
OUR BANKS BOARD, BEFORE THE LAST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) NOW EXPECTS THIS
CLOSING BALANCE OF US$13.5M TO BE CLAIMED BY THE LATE ENGINIEER ROBERTH
LAWRENCE'S FORIENG NEXT OF KIN OR BE DONATED AS UNCLAIMED FUND TO A TRUST FUND
FOR ARMS AND AMMUNITION AT A MILITARY WAR COLLEDGE HERE IN NIGERIA.

THIS IDEA IS MOST UNREASONABLE HENCE; I HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THIS STEP.

FERVENT EFFORTS MADE BY THE EQUITORIAL TRUST BANK TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THE
LAWRENCE FAMILY OR RELATIVES ALL HAVE PROVED ABORTIVE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, OUR
CHAIRMAN AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DECLARING THE FUNDS
"UNCLAIMABLE".

AS AN INSIDER AND THE ACTUAL MANAGER OF THE ACCOUNT AND BALANCE, MY COLLEAGUES
AND I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO ACT AS LATE ROBERTH LAWRENCE'S NEXT OF KIN
AND RECEIVE THIS FUNDS AS INHERITANCE CLAIM FOR THE BENEFIT OF BOTH PARTIES. ALL
DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO PERFECT THIS WILL BE IN PLACE ONCE YOU INDICATE YOUR
ACCEPTANCE. FOR YOUR ROLE IN THE TRANSACTION, YOU WILL KEEP 30% FOR YOURSELF, 10%
FOR TAXATION AND PRESERVE 60% FOR US.

IF THIS PROPOSAL IS OK AND YOU WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRUST WE BESTOW ON
YOU. KINDLY GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY FURNISHING ME WITH YOUR MOST CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION:
FIRST NAME:LAST NAMECOUNTRY OF RESIDENT:OCCUPATION:SEX:TELL:FAX:

SO THAT I CAN FORWARD TO YOU THE DETAILS OF THIS TRANSACTION.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE RESPONSE WILL BE APPRIECIATED TO
ENABLE US KNOW THE WAY FORWARD. ALSO TREAT AS URGENT.

FINALLY, ALWAYS REPLY ONLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:(etbk@pc.nu)
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

REGARDS,MR. NORRIS AKABUEmail:etbk@pc.nu
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam