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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:
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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:
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "diplomatic security company" ("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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Awa" <peter.awa121@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:02:45 +0100
Subject: YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT BY CASH-CALL SYSTEM


*Operations Unit,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Tinubu-Square,
Lagos-Island,
Nigeria.

Honorable Contractor,
YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT BY CASH-CALL SYSTEM
Be informed that after a series of setbacks, the Federal Ministry of Finance
(FMF) has ordered that your over-due contract sum of US$12,500,000.00 be
paid to you by cash.

This contract sum, as approved has already been concealed in a large
diplomatic trunk box awaiting shipment to you.

By the bilateral secrete arrangement between the Federal Ministry of Finance
(FMF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Operations Unit; the box was
sealed in disguise and marked "VITAL DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS" to be delivered
to you as the CBN client, recipient and beneficiary. This is to avert
betrayal or breach of security in any circumstance.

The diplomatic trunk box will be delivered to you via a diplomatic security
company as arranged by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

As soon as you receive this confidential information, get back to this unit
of the bank for us to furnish you with the legal documents that will aid you
legitimately and lawfully deposit this fund in your bank.

I personally spear-headed this arrangement hoping that you will show me some
gratifications after you have received your trunk.

Truly yours,
Mr. Peter Awa,
CBN Operations Unit,
Lagos.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam