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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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Micheal Udofia" <udofia3@unimail.mn>
Reply-To: michealudofia@rocketmail.com
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 08:26:37 -0700
Subject: RESPOND TO THIS LETTER


SIR MICHAEL UDOFIA
DEPUTY GOVERNOR,
INTERNATIONAL OPERATION DEPT.


DEAR BENEFICIARY,

VERIFICATION OF YOUR PAYMENT/WINNINGS FILE.

THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS, NEXT
OF KIN FUNDS AND LOTTERY FUNDS DUE FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM, YOUR NAME/PARTICULARS WAS
DISCOVERED AS NEXT ON THE LIST OF THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS 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 RESPOND TO THIS LETTER. ALSO NOTE THAT FROM
THE RECORD IN MY FILE YOUR OUTSTANDING PART PAYMENT IS US$1,700,000.00 (ONE
MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS).

KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS:

1) YOUR FULL NAME.
2) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
3) PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE #.
4) PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS
5) PLACE OF WORK AND ADDRESS.
6) AGE AND MARITAL STATUS.

AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE TO YOU IN
A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR WIRED TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT DIRECTLY FROM
EITHER OUR UNITED STATES PAYMENT CENTER; CITI BANK NEW YORK OR BANK OF
AMERICA AND HSBC BANK IN LONDON UK. YOU CAN EMAIL ME ON MY DIRECT MAIL
ADDRESS AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MEMO FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

REGARDS,

SIR MICHAEL UDOFIA
michaeludofia@cenbank.org (Please all replies to this email address)

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This E-Mail is intended only for the use of the
individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information
that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable
law. If you have received this communication in error, please do not
distribute and delete the original message. Please notify the sender by
E-Mail at the address shown. Thank you for your compliance.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam