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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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found 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.
  
• 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.
  • +2348085807355 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • femijohnsoncbn@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ROSE AKU" <roseaku01@unimail.mn>
Reply-To: roseakuc@excite.com
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 19:37:23 +0100
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT.


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TELEX AND CREDIT UNIT
TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS.
Tel: 234-808-580-7355

PRIVATE MAIL BAGS 12194 CABLES: CENTRAL BAN
REF: CBN/PCFDP/Z20/08


ATTN:Dear Contractor.
From The Desk of the Legal advisers
Central Bank of Nigeria.
PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT.

This is to bring to your notice that the new governing Board of the central
bank of Nigeria (C.B.N) has approved your over due contract payment with
immediate effect,Following the order of Mr.president of Nigeria,and the
Finance ministry this morning your contract file was submitted to the newly
appointed director of telex and credit unit of (C.B.N) Mr.Femi Johnson, for
further crediting of you account/ payment.
On this note you are advised to reconfirm your contract details as well as
your receiving bank and get back to him through the above Telephone number
or Fax, to avoid any mistake in the account information we submitted to him
today.
Meanwhile We in the legal department has advised that you are not going to
ask to pay for any certificates any longer as your file have passed our
screen text for payment. By the governing council of our apex bank and you
are advised to stop any dealing with any office or any person for your own
interest except Mr.Femi Johnson,
Please as a matter of urgency I ask that you call him on his direct
telephone number on 234-808-580-7355 or his E-mail (*
femijohnsoncbn@hotmail.com* <femijohnsoncbn@hotmail.com>)
I and on behave of federal government of Nigeria do hereby apologize for all
the delays over your none payment all this while.

Regards,
Mrs. ROSE AKU.
For the legal advisers (C.B.N).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam