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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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Tim Cook <mmssxx@live.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 05:43:50 -0400
Subject: Contract Award and Implementation Committee

 

From the Desk of: The Chairman
Contract Award and Implementation Committee
Tell.234 8027285696
RE: TRANSFER OF US$7.5M

I am Dr. Daniel Chukwuka Chairman Contract Award and Implementation Committee in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). My duty includes awards of contracts, vetting same and making

payments on behalf of my corporation (NNPC) alongside the Chief Accountants and Directors of Audit.
SUBJECT: After due consideration, we have fully agreed to privately invest extensively in your country. I am intending to resign from Government services to private business with some other officials of my

Ministry as partners. I got your esteemed particulars through the Chambers of Commerce. So I decided to write you for an urgent business proposal. I have specifically been mandated to arrange with you for

terms of trade and possible transfer of the funds needed for the investment into your company's account or personal account. This funds were incurred from an over invoiced contract awarded to an American firm

in USA during the regime of  President Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFRN). The original value of these contracts were purposely over estimated by us the Tenders Board Committee to the tune of US$7.5m(Seven

Million Five Hundred Thuosand, US Dollars only). Now that the firm have received their payment fully, we want to transfer the over invoiced sum to your company's account and privately invest in any profitable

form of business. The US$7.5 m has since been approved for payment/remittance among other payments that have been made. This money is now floating in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a redundant

fund waiting to be claimed. Becasuse of our new Federal Government Decree on Civil Servants, we officials are not allowed to own a company or operate a foreign account. Therefore, I solicit your help to remit

this funds into your company's account pending when we come over for the sharing. To enable us process and remit this fund into your bank account successfully within 10 banking days from the day of your

response, we need the following information from you by a return Email or call:

* Your Full Name and company name if any
* Your Telephone Number and Fax
* Your bank particulars including your bank's name, address, Tel, Fax, Telex numbers.

Note that as soon as we receive this information, it will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for final processing and approvals. With this modality, it makes it possible for your company to act as a subsidiary

of the original firm; and when satisfied by the agencies, your bank account will be credited via Telegraphic Transfer by the Telegraphic Transfer Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria within 48 hours through

any of our Apex bank (CBN correspondent bank)This transfer is 100% risk-free having done all the underground works locally for the smooth transfer of the fund into your bank account within the shortest period. I

advice that you should keep this business a top secret and rest all correspondences to fax and phone only because I am occupying a sensitive position in the government circle and also this is once in a life

time opportunity. Finally, I want you to assure me that you will work on my instructions and that our own share of the money will be safe. We have jointly agreed to reward you with 25% of the total sum for your

honest assistance and co-operation while 65% will be for my colleagues and I. The remaining 10% will be for re-inbursement for expenses that might be incurred during the procesing and eventual transfer of the

funds into your bank account. Indicate your interest urgently by Call.

Best regards,
*Dr . Daniel Chukwuka (MFR)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam