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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic delivery"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment" (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 united states 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)
  • "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "central bank of nigeria" (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.
  • +23417623056 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: "Joy Anderson" <joychi@btconnect.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:11:54 +0100
Subject: very very urgent

Central Bank of Nigeria
Tinibu Square, Lagos Island, Lagos-Nigeria
Tel: 234-1- 762 3056

Our Ref.: PRE/CAC/CBN/0XX/07
 
From: The desk of Ms. Joy Anderson
 
Attn: My dear friend beneficiary,
 
First, I will like to introduce myself to you. I am Ms. Joy Anderson, Pay Master, Central Bank of Nigeria. I write in respect of the matter on ground. At about 17:45 hours on Monday dated 22nd of October 2007, the chief security officer (CSO) of CBN approached me, stating that thirty six boxes containing US$8Million (Eight Million United States Dollars) each is at his office, deposited as unclaimed fund and have be confiscated, and it has been mapped out to pay foreign contractors from the bank and next of kin funds, This fund is in a security proof box well padded with synthetic nylon. They have serial numbers (14 and 6) hidden under it.
 
We have been on this position for the past twelve years but I have nothing to show for it, this is the reason why Engineer Rotimi makes up his mind to use this as an opportunity to bring a better life to our families because soon we will retire by the authority and no other means of survival, this is our last hope to succeed in life. The CSO have asked me to look for a reliable foreigner Contractor who I think that is not going to cheat or eat the money alone so that the two boxes he has already taken to a diplomatic delivery Company for sending will transfer to the person. For your information, this is what we indicated to the Courier Company as the real content of the two boxes are film and photographic materials; this is for the security of the fund because the company don't deliver cash. In this gesture I demit wise to contact you, I got your contact from your file in (CBN) also in our office as a paymaster of Central Bank and I have worked with other banks, I now find out that you have never receive any part of your payment about your contract fund and such as next of kin money transfer, NNPC funds that you work with governmental bodies, of which I saw three contractors in the file, I went to my pastor to seek advice that I got this three contactors and I want to do business with one and I want a honest person out of the three contractors, he should decide for me, and he helped to pray over it and he indicated I should do the business with you hence I contacted you. Since you have never receive nothing from your contract payment by Nigeria Government that is the reason why we use this opportunity to help you and bring life in our families. If I may ask you, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL-BODIES AND BANKS CLAIMING TO BE IN POSITION OF YOUR PAYMENT ALL THIS YEARS?
 
I want you to know that I have made every necessary arrangement on how the two boxes containing US$8Million each approximately US$16Million will get to you, what I need is your permission to carry on, due to the shipping payment has been arranged and insurance, right now the consignment is deposited in a safe deposit company and when I hear from you I would ask them to proceed immediately. If you are willing to do this business, reply urgently to help me give you the lay down procedure on how you are going to receive the boxes through Courier Shipping Company and other secret code behead the sending. I advise you to get in touch with me through email hence is better or cell # 234-1- 762 3056  for the confirmation on the receipt of this letter with your current telephone and delivering address.
 
For sharing modalities 35% for you while 65% is for Engineer Rotimi and me. Already we have paid for the shipment all I need from you is a promising note of 35% percent of the total sum will get to you after the boxes deliver to you. The reasons why I made this contact to you is because we cannot do the business with my friends who know me because out of greediness they might expose the transaction to the authority. These are the reasons why we both seek for foreign partner whereby you have not receive your contract payment.
 
Please I will advise you to get back to me through this email ibeaso@voila.fr because it is not wise for me to receive any fax copy regarding to this deal with our office fax line to keep the secret of this business and beside, I will not like any body in my office here to understand what is going on until the transaction is over. My dear, God have blessed us with these two boxes.
 
Thanking you for your kind assistance to help my family grow.
 
Waiting your immediate response.
 
                                                                   Signed
 

Ms. Joy Anderson                    Engineer M. Rotimi

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam