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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "sent to you via courier service" (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. )
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (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: "Mr.JOHN Paul" <paulmr1@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 06:32:59 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Attn Sir/Madam


Attn Sir/Madam
Cheque/Draft raised on your behalf from the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) as approved from the office of the Executive Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. Professor Chukwuma Soludo PhD, The Senate Committee; The payment is based on the compensation our New President Alhaij Umar Yar'Adua promised the International Community, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the inauguration day and also to your President as a way of sanitizing our Country and compensating those of you that have been a victims to some of the bad eggs in the Ministries. This compensation came up after those people involved in the act were relived of their job and this office was set up to ensure that everybody concern's get their Cashier Check

You should at come down to our office here in Abuja Nigeria with copy of your identification to pick up your check.
Alternatively the check can be sent to you via courier service, which you shall bear the cost. The Cashier Cheque is payable over your bank counter immediately the original copy is presented.

Our office address is.
150 Shagari Road Wuse Zone 2
Abuja - Nigeria.

Your immediate response is being waited.

Yours truly,
Paul Ikechukwu


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam