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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "abuja" (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 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.
  • ssmbh1@maktoob.com

Fraud email example:

From: alhajiobyissah <alhajiobyissah56@gmail.com>
Reply-To: alhajiobyissah2@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:17:39 -0800
Subject: Reply asap


>From the desk of Alhaji Oby Issah
Senate committee on Debts Payment
5th Floor, Annex 3,New Federal Secretariat Complex,
Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area
Abuja Nigeria.



Dear Beneficiary,



My name is Alhaji Oby Issah, I am secretary to the chairman Senate Committee
on Foreign Debts Reconcillation and Payment , I'm directed to contact you by
the Ministry of Finance, to urgently confirm from you if actually you know
one "Mr James Ford "who claim to be your business associate/ partner here in
Nigeria.



The said Mr. James Ford is claiming to this office that you are dead and
that instructed him to receive the fund/payment which the federal Government
of Nigeria recently approved to transfer to you as your payment.However,Mr
James Ford also instructed that all relevant documentation/Informations
regarding your payment transfer should be changed to him as the beneficiary
of this payment, that is short-listed among the foreign beneficiaries who
are to receive their debts owned by the banks here in Nigeria.

We wish to inform you that this Ministry in directives of the federal
Government instructions/mandate to offset all outstanding payments to all
our legal and verified foreign beneficiaries arround the world and your
payment file was affected.



Be informed that this Government has approved , the total amount of
US$5,000.000.00 million.(FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) to all
verified foreign beneficiaries . With this application Mr Ford filed to this
office that you are dead,We need to confirm the reality of that thus we
decided to write this letter.
Note that,If we did not hear or receive any response from you,within the
next 24 hours,we will automatically beleived that what he told us is true
and correct,then we will proceed to process this payment in favour of Mr
James Ford.



You are hereby requested to reply this mail immediately for
confirmation,before we proceed in processement of this payment,and for us to
know the true position of your health status so that we won't make any
mistakes/errors in remitting your out-standing payment to a wrong
person/account.Your quick response will help this ministry alot.Do email me
with the following data :



1) YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS.
2) YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER
3) YOUR OCCUPATION AND AGE

The above informations will help this ministry to tackle this problems of
double claim by this Mr James Ford.Note You can also email me via
ssmbh1@maktoob.com
Best Regards.
Alhaji Oby Issah
Secretary to the Chairman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam