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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "you will take 25%" (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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Martins Obiakor <martinsobiakor7@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <martinsobiakor_ecobank@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:42:52 +0100
Subject: RE:PAYMENT ADVICE



FROM DR MARTINS OBIAKOR
DIRECTOR INT'L REMITTANCE DEPT.
ECOBANK PLC.
Sir
RE:PAYMENT ADVICE
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO CONTACCT YOU AND INFORM YOU OF THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT HERE IN MY OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT ALHAJI MUSA YARADUA HAS APPROVED A TOTAL PAYMENT OF $10M FOR ALL THE FOREIGN CONTRACTORS WHOSE PAYMENT HAS BEEN OVER DUE.
MY DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO CARRY OUT AN INVESTIGATION ON ALL THE EFFECTED BENEFICIARIES FILES AND PASS THEM TO THE PAYMENT OFFICER IF CERTIFIED OK FOR PAYMENT.
I HAVE INVESTIGATED ALL THE FILES OF THE CONTRACTORS AND DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS DID NOT ACTUALLY EXECUTE THIS CONTRACT, I HAVE DECIDED TO FRONT YOU AS THE ONE WHO EXECUTED THE CONTRACT .THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED,BECAUSE MY LAWYER WILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THIS TRANSACTION.
IT IS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH OF US TO MAKE MONEY,AS THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED,I WILL RECOMMENDED YOU FOR THE PAYMENT, AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR ACCEPTANCE.
FOR YOU TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS IN YOUR NAME AND SUBMITE THE FILE TO THE PAYMENT OFFICER,THE TRANSFER WILL BE MADE TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT WITHOUT DELAY.
WHEN THE TRANSFER IS FINALLY MADE TO YOU,YOU WILL TAKE 25% AND I WILL TAKE 70%,WHILE 5% WILL BE USED TO OFFSET ANY EXPENSES BOTH PARTIES MIGHT INCUR DURING THE TRANSACTION.
I NEED YOUR PHONE NUMBER, YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS AND YOUR ADDRESS.
THANKS AS I WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
BEST REGARDS.
DR.MARTINS OBIAKOR
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam