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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:
  • "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: JAMES IKE <jamesike666@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:59:47 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT ON ACCRUED INTEREST OF US$3.1M



OUR REF: UBN/435/xo/027 DATE: 10-10-2007ATTN. Sir and madam.RE: PAYMENT ON ACCRUED INTEREST OF US$3.1MI am REV. JAMES IKE, the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and Head of Swift Transfer Unit of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. Lagos-NigeriaSometime ago, in our bank your contract money was brought to our bank from Nigerian Apex Bank, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (C.B.N) and after some period, this money was taken back to the Federal Government treasury.For the period of time this money was in our bank, it generated an interest of US$ 3.1 Million, which we are about to be pay to you viaInternational Certified Bank Draft For your information and advice, you need to hasten up to pick this Fund because from time to time the C.B.N auditors do come to our bank to cross-check our files and our financial update, the earlier you comply with the demands of the delivery of the fund, the faster the action, because the CBN officials wants the accrued interest to be paid to them but we refused, so when they find out that this interest fund is still in our bank they will want to call back the money to the Federal Government treasury.What we need from you now is any form of your identification for example; your international passport or you’re driver’s license, then your telephone and fax number for easy communication with your mailing address where this Draft will be delivered to you or your account details.As a matter of fact we don’t have enough time to waste since we have wasted time in contacting our respective customers, so try and comply with the entire necessar requirement for remittance.Contact me on our official email.jamesike55@yahoo.comexpectingyour immediately response.Yours Sincerely,REV JAMES IKE
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam