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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "affidavit of claim" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • u_bello222@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: johnson anayo <jo_investment2009@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 13:21:37 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: RE : $800,000.00 Compensation For All Your Past Efforts






FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERI OFFICE OF
THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
LAGOS ANNEX OFFICE



From the Desk Of: Mr.Usman Bello
Personal Assistant Accountant General
of The Federation
E-mail : u_bello222@yahoo.co.uk
DIRECET TEL/NO:#234-8088539505
CORPORATE OFFICE:

REF; FGN/agfn/con/ft/607


DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I AM THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THE ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION. AND I AM WRITING TO NOTIFY YOU THAT OUR NEW PRESIDENT HAS ORDERED THAT THE SUM OF US$1B SET ASIDE FROM THE EXCESS CRUDE OIL REVENUE TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS OF ADVANCE FEE FRAUD AS THIS MENACE HAS SOILED THE NAME OF OUR DEAR COUNTRY NIGERIA.

YOUR CONTACT WAS RELEASED TO US THROUGH THE FBI / EFCC DATABASE.THEREFORE,YOU HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AS A BENEFICIARY OF THIS COMPENSATION AND THE SUM OF US$800,000.00 ONLY HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR YOU IN A SECURED CASH CARD (ATM}.

THIS MORNING,TWO GENTLEMEN WORKED INTO MY OFFICE AND REQUESTED THAT I HANDOVER YOUR CASH CARD {ATM} TO THEM,
THEY PRODUCED A SWORN AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM ISSUED BY A HIGH COURT HERE AUTHORIZING THEM TO ACT AS YOUR AGENT HERE IN NIGERIA AND A POWER OF ATTORNEY FROM YOU AUTHORIZING MY OFFICE TO RELEASE YOUR SECURED CASH CARD(ATM) TO THEM AS YOU ARE TOO-ILL TO APPEAR IN PERSON TO COLLECT YOUR CASH CARD {ATM}.

I WILL THEREFORE REQUIRE YOU TO CONFIRM THIS TWO MEN WITH THEIR NAMES SO THAT I CAN HAND OVER YOUR SECURED CASH CARD (ATM) TO THEM AS YOU INSTRUCTED IN THE POWER OF ATTORNEY.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON THAT SEND THESE MEN, PLEASE EMAIL ME IMMEDIATELY SO THAT I CAN HAVE THEM ARRESTED.

I WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU ASAP IN THIS REGARD.

THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COOPERATION.

RESPECTFULLY YOURS
MR.USMAN BELLO

Cc: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA {CBN}
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE {FMF}


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam