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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.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • +2348072142618 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:55:24 +0000
Subject: FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTION


From the desk of: Evengelist. Ebere Chukwu
Head International Division
OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC






Date: 07/11/08




RE: ATM CARD PAYMENT SYSTEM



On behalf of the board of Directors of this bank we wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review and evaluation of your Inheritance/Contract fund in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Finance, The World Bank Auditor General and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment report. Your payment file was forwarded to Oceanic International Bank Plc for immediate payment.

We are happy to notify you that your part payment processing of US$2.5Million United State Dollars has been concluded through our Inter-Switched ATM Card Payment system. Kindly as a matter of urgency reconfirm your full name, your mailing address and your private telephone number as soon as you received this payment notification update so we can finalize arrangement for the delivery of the ATM Card to you.

Awaits your immediate response

Best Regards
Evengelist. Ebere Chukwu
Head International Division
OCEANIC BANK OF INTERNATIONAL PLC
TEL: +234-01-4208429
Cell: +234-807-2142618

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This e-mail was sent using Tiscali Webmail

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam