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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • +2348051260148 (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.
  • drernestebi1@mail.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3adrernestebi1@mail.ru

Fraud email example:

From: "Soludo mail" <info_5@mailbox.hu>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 04:26:51 -0700
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL COURIER PAYMENT


*From: Dr Ernest Ebi
Director foreign operation unit
Central bank of Nigeria
Email:drernestebi1@mail.ru <Email%3Adrernestebi1@mail.ru>
Tel:234-805-1260148

CONFIDENTIAL COURIER PAYMENT
ATTN: Sir /Madam,*

*I am Dr Ernest Ebi Director foreign operation unit of central bank of
Nigeria.
I decided to contact you because of the prevailing security report reaching
my office and the intense nature of polity in Nigeria.
This is to inform you about the recent plan of federal government of Nigeria
to send your fund to you via diplomatic immunity cash delivery payment.*

* This system will be easier for you and for us. We are going to pay you
US$10.Million part contract payment of your total sum via the above
approved mode of payment.*

*Every necessary arrangement has put in place for the secured of all
required security documents to cover the money.
The Money is coming on 2 security proof boxes, the boxes are sealed with
Synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. I will use my position as the
foreign operation director of this apex bank to make sure this consignments
(fund ) are been safely and legaly release to You.*

*The boxes are coming with asigned diplomatic agents who will accompany the
Boxes to your approved destination address.
For a hitch free and safe delivery, you are required to funish me
immediately upon rceipt of this message with the below sated information,*

*1. Your full house address
2. Your identity such as, international passport, driver's license or
national identification card.
3. Your contact phone numbers,*

*The diplomatioc Agents attached will travel with these required
information's For the delivery of your fund. They will call you immediately
they arrives Your country's airport. I hope you understand me.
I will let you know when these consignments will be lifted.*

*IMPORTANT NOTE: The diplomatic Agents does not know the original contents
of the boxes.

For security reasons what we declared to them as the contents of the
consignments are Sensitive photographic Film Material. I did not declare
money to them please. So if they call you and
ask you the contents please tell them the same thing ok.

Contact me immediately and I will let you know how far I have gone with The
arrangement. I will secure the clearance Certificate that will be tagged on
the boxes which I will dispatch along with the security inner Keys of the
consignments to enable you access these consignments has soon as it
delivered to you.
This clearance instrucments will make it pass every custom checkpoint all
over the world without hitch. *

*Confirm the receipt of this message and send the requirements to me
Immediately you receive this message.Please I need your urgent reply because
the boxes are schedule to airlift as soon as we hear from you. *

*Contact me immediately you receive this message.*

*Best Regards,*

*From: Dr Ernest Ebi
Director foreign operation unit
Central bank of Nigeria
Email:drernestebi1@mail.ru <Email%3Adrernestebi1@mail.ru>
Tel:234-805-1260148
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam