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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 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.
  • muhtarmansurcbni@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Muhtar Mansur" <muhtarmansurcbn1@mailbox.hu>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 20:05:47 +0300
Subject: GET BACK TO ME ASAP.


FROM THE DESK OF DR.MUHTAR MANSUR
CENTRAL BANK PARKING
COURIER DEPARTMENT
NIGERIA.

DEAR FRIEND,

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE
BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.
I AM DR MUHTAR MANSUR I WORK IN THE CENTRAL
BANK OF NIGERIA, PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE CENTRAL BANK WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE
IN YOU.

I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY OUT OF MY COUNTRY
WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR CBN ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS
OF THE PACKAGE IS USD$10,000,000.00 ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BUT THE COURIER
COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW
THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE .

PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH YOUR FULL ADDRESS, YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX FOR
MORE DETAILS CONCERNING THE LOCATION OF THE PACKAGE TO ENABLE YOU CLAIM THE
PACKAGE ON MY BEHALF. I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WILL HAVE 40%
AND 60% WILL BE FOR ME .

MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE
REVEALED TO ANYBODY. IF THIS ARRANGEMENT
IS OKAY BY YOU, REPLY ME AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME
INCLUDING SENDING OF THE CODE TO THE BOXES TO YOU.

PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS: muhtarmansurcbni@yahoo.com

I AM WAITING FOR YOUR VERY URGENT REPLY.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR MUHTAR MANSUR
HEAD CENTRAL BANK COURIER
DEPARTMENT NIGERIA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam