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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  
• 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.
  • +2348028065386 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • adbg_nigoffice@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: ernest ebi <deputyovernorcbn300@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:55:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT REPLY


FROM THE DESK OF DR.ERNEST EBI
PRESIDENT AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP,
NIGERIA COUNTRY OFFICE (NGOF),
PLOT 813,LAKE CHAD CRESCENT,MAITAMA DISTRICT
ABUJA,NIGERIA.
Email:adbg_nigoffice@yahoo.com
Web site:www.afdb.org
Direct Tel: 234-80280-653-86.


Attn: Beneficiary,


RE: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT RELEASE BY CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT

According to the disbursement agreement existing between World
Bank/International Monetary Fund and African Development bank, we have been
advised through the approvals of the United Nations in Nigeria to release
to you, your fund Payment by Certified Bank Draft from Our bank, under
the authorization of the presidency and Federal Ministry of Finance.

Your Draft valued $3.5USD (part payment) has 30 days validity period
and shall be expired for cancellation if not collected before date. The
Draft has been approved for payment under three (3) Standard Collection
Basis;

(1) We have the honor to invite you to our bank information Center in
Lagos to enable you pick the Draft with prove of ownership (Original
copy of your Payment Clearance Order) and upon settlement of our Bank
Administrative charges. Representatives not honored.

(2) We can in alternative arrange to dispatch your Draft to your
mailing address. In this direction, you shall bear the cost of the Draft
shipment to your destination through our Bankers Courier Service Agents as
we cannot guarantee you of our assistance to ship the Draft Consignment
to you at our own expense. On the same note, you shall regularize the
payment of our Bank Administrative charges prior to the shipment of
your Draft.

(3) We can arrange to deposit your Value Draft with our Bank upon your
intention to operate a Domiciliary Account Balance with us to enable us
deposits your Draft in your own account with our bank. Upon this
arrangement, we shall forward to you our Account Registration Form to enable
you fill in and attach your Passport with other information and
thereafter forward same to us for approvals.

After your account has been approved, you will be required to activate
your account with a minimum Cash Deposit to make your Account
operational in order to accommodate the volume of Fund Deposit (Draft) since the
draft cannot be deposited on a Zero Account. All your Account Information including an ADB CASH@YOUR SERVICE CARD will be forwarded to you.

after registration to enable you access your account from your location.
As soon as you make your intentions known to us in this particular
option, we will immediately dispatch to you our Bank Official Prospectus
enclosed with our Account Balance Registration Form to enable you fill in
and return to us for approval.

We shall stop further communications with you on your failure or
inability to respond positively to our instructions which may precipitate the
expiration of your Draft, thereby making it prone to cancellation. It
is our sincere obligations to offer you our satisfactory services.

Thanks for your kind understanding, while looking forward hearing from
you.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Ernest Ebi (Bsc, Msc, PhD, OFR)
President African Development Bank




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam