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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)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348088808124 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Edward Smith <edwardsmiths_204@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <edwardsmithssss@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:54:01 -0500
Subject: kindly acknowledge the receipt of this mail(ref:Your fund investigation)


FOREIGN PAYMENT INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT2007 ANTI-FRAUD-UNIT 4TH FLOORMARYLAND LAGOS NIGERIAMOTTO: SECURITY WATCH.From The Desk of: Senator Edward SmithTel:+234-808-880-8124

Attention: Sir/Madam,(Beneficiary)

RE: BE CAREFUL OF FRAUDSTERS.

Based on the finding in this investigation department we wish to warn you against some touts.

We have been informed that some touts are contacting you in respect to the collection of your fund that was long approved in your favor through one of the Nigerian international banks.

As a matter of fact we have been on these investigation assignments for some time codely known to no one other than the Presidency and some top government officials who are in support of this investigation team to help stop fraudulent activities in this country.

Although we have been able to come up with some good result about the People that have extorted money from you illegally and I wish to tell you that you should stop sending money to all these people parading themselves as what they are not.

A lot of people have been traced through investigation to your inability to receive your fund in time, and we are already on their trail to track them down for their dubious character who had put the name of this great country in a mud in the eye of international community.

We are waiting for you to write back to us if truly these scammers have swindled you.

And note the only office/payee bank that had been exclusively authorized to contact you or to make payment to you will be given to you as soon as you respond to this mail.

You are advised to stop dealing with all these people, as they will not help you in anyway to the success of this transaction.

The contact of the bank where your money is deposited will be given to you and you will be making a direct contact with the bank so that you could receive your fund as soon as you respond to this mail.

We apologies on behalf of the President and the people of Nigeria for any delay and lost this must have caused you and we promise that this will not happen again.

Finally, we are expecting to hear from you today. But mind you, you are strongly warned not to contact these dubious people again.

ENDEAVOUR TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING DETAILS OF YOUR ALONGS WITH YOUR COMPLAINS FOR COMFIRMATION:

YOUR FULL NAMES:...................................... RESIDENCIAL ADDRESS:..................................OCCUPATION:...........................................YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBER:..................................MOBILE NUMBER.....................................NATIONALITY:..........................................SEX:..................................................AGE:..................................................AMOUNT EXPECTED.......................................

As soon as we recieve thses information from you, a swift investigation will commence and at the end we promise that whoever is involved in your plight shall be apprehended and handed over to the government and you shall be compensated accordingly.

This Decision is supported and approved courtesy: FBI AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND {I.M.F} , UNITED NATION SECRET SERVICE , EUROPE , AMERICA, ASIA AND THE ECOWAS COMMUNITIES.

Thanks for your good understanding while we wait for your urgent response.

Senator Edward Smith (Head of Foreign Payment Investigation department)Lagos,Nigeria

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam