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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Felix Ude" <felixude5@mobimail.mn>
Reply-To: felix.ude@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 19:46:39 +0100
Subject: Central Bank of Nigeria,


Central Bank of Nigeria,
Corporate Head Quarters,
Tinubu Square, Lagos -Nigeria.
LINE:+234-8061648135

Beneficiary,

>From the record of outstanding contractors/beneficiaries due for payment
with the Federal Government of Nigeria, your name and company was discovered
as next on the list of outstanding beneficiaries who have not yet received
their long -due funds.

I am using this medium to have you notified that your overdue payment is
being processed and will be release to you as soon as you respond to this
notification letter. Also note that from the record in your payment files,
your overdue outstanding balance is US$12,500,000.00 only, with the payment
reference (#.) of NLAG/FGN/FMF/CBN/B2517/99.

As a matter of urgency, you are advised to sincerely re -confirm to me if
this is inline with what you already have in your records and you should
also re-confirm to me the followings as they are listed below:

1.) Beneficiary Name & Address.
2.) Beneficiary Phone (Home/Mobile) & Fax Numbers For Merit Reach.
3.) Beneficiary Bank Name & Address Where Payment Should Be Emitted.
4.) Computers Scan Copy of Int?l Passport or Driver?s License For Simply
Identification.

As soon as these information are received, your overdue funds will be
telegraphically wired into your nominated bank account and a copy of your
Payment Transfer Slip would be issued to you for confirmation of telex
transmission. As a result of the on going drive, I will advice you to get
back to this office with every necessary requirement to enable our Telex
Department program the telegraphic wire transfer of your overdue payment.

Thank you,

Mr. Felix Ude
Audit/Account Reconcilliation
Central Bank of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources: