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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "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: "Barrister Clement Ezeh" <ezehbarristerclement@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: clementezeh@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 08:24:32 -0700
Subject: Good Day,


Good Day,

CBN INTERVENTION ON YOUR PAYMENT

We appologise for the delay of your overdue payment and all the
inconveniences this might

have caused you. You have to know that the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) has
retrieved all

unclaimed funds from offshore/onshore Banks, after the meeting we held with
President of

Federal Republic of Nigeria, (Umaru Musa Yar'auda GCFR) over the delayed
payment to rightful

beneficiary like you to receive your fund, the CBN have uphold all payment
fund retrieved

from various banks to ensure successful payment to the beneficiary. Your
payment is among

2nd quarters payment which has been approved for immediate payment through
telegraphic wire

transfer or a certified bank draft can be issue to you.

Therefore, we have received all this payment funds to be paid to the
approved beneficiary

from the records of outstanding overdue payment with the federal government
of Nigeria, I

wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square whole and can be
voguished, for

that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as
you respond to

this letter. The Federal Government of Nigeria has put a new law to stop
fraudulent

malpractice that has been going all over the world. As soon as we receive
this information,

we shall proceed immediately for your payment without further delay.

Regards,
Mr. Clement Ezeh. Director,
Remitance Department.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam