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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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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:
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • 2348977981

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. IDRIS MAMMOUD" <idmamoud77@biz.by>
Reply-To: idrismamoud77@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 06:17:21 -0700
Subject: AWAITING FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE REPLY.


M THE DESK OF DR. IDRIS MAMMOUD
(EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
MARINA - LAGOS.
PHONE: 234 897 7981


Attn: Beneficiary,

RE: IMMEDIATE ORDER/GUARANTEE FOR YOUR PAYMENT.

>From the records of outstanding foreign payments due for release with
Central Bank of Nigeria, your name was discovered as next on the list of
outstanding foreigners who have not yet received their payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
released to you as soon as you reconfirm your payment details so that we can
authenticate the claim legally. The sum of US$8.5 Million (Eight Million and
Five Hundred Thousand) United States Dollars only has been mapped out to be
released to you as part payment in this quarter of the year, after which the
remaining part of your funds will be released to you.

Kindly re-confirm to us the following information:

1) Your full name and contact address.
2) Telephone/Fax numbers.
3) Occupation
4) Marital status/Age

In receipt of the above information, your payment will be approved and paid
to you by wired to your nominated bank account, you are advised to get back
to me immediately for more clarifications.

Yours truly,
DR. Idris Mammoud
(Executive Director)
Central Bank of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam