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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.

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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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "Dr.Francis Kuala" <franciskuala@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <dr.kualafrancis1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:46:07 -0500
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT/ INHERITANCE




CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.


OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
OUR REF: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/07

Attn: Honourable Contractor
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE ON CONTRACT
#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/007.
Following the protest of the International Community, The World Bank, IMF and the instruction by the President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces(Mallam Musa Ya'adua) that all outstanding forieghn debts especially next of kin payment should be released to the benefeciaries forthwith unconditionally.

From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Government of Nigeria. Your name and company was discovered as next of kin on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not received their payments. I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.

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,sex and marital status.5) Any kind of identification

As soon as this information are received, your payment will be made to you in a certified bank draft or wired to your bank account directly from Central bank of Nigeria or any of the sisters bank and the a copy of transfer confirmation informations will be given to you for you to take to your bank and confirm it.

YOURS SINCERELY,

FRANCIS KUALA
DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMMITTANCE OFFICE (CBN)
+234-832204837
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam