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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • ihemedu@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Nicholas Johnson <nicholjoh8@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 21:03:09 +0000
Subject: Urgent




This is just a short true note about your unpaid fund. So you need to relax and read very well to your best understanding.

My name is Nicholas Johnson. I am a computer scientist working with Central Bank of Nigeria. I am 28 years old, just started working with C.B.N. I came across your file marked X and your released disk painted RED. I took time to study it and tried to find out why the funds were not released to you. They will never tell you the truth that they wont release the fund to you, instead they allow you spend your money unnecessarily.

I do not intend to work here forever, I can release the fund to you if you can certify me of my security and assure me that when I make the release you will settle me. I needed to do this because you need to know the status of your fund and cause for the delay.

This is like a Mafian setting in Nigeria and you may not understand because you are not a Nigerian. The only thing needed to release this fund to you is the Original Anti Drug/Terrorist Clearance Certificate, which will be tendered to any of your nominated bank and the Internal Revenue Service IRS for clearance of the transferred amount in your account. Once the Original Anti Drug/Terrorist Clearance Certificate is cleared, funds will immediately reflect in your bank within 10 Minutes. The Certificate is all that is needed to complete this transaction.

The only authorized and sincere person who will issue you the original Document is Mr. Emmanuel Ihemedu. He is a United Nation attachee with US Embassy here in Nigeria. Make sure you indicate your file has a mark letter X and Disk painted Red so that he would recognize your file.

The President made a compensation fund release for all unpaid beneficiaries/contractors valued at $5million. Therefore, you are not only going to receive your original initial fund, the compensation fund release bonus will be added to your original fund payment. The whole funds both your initial payment and the compensation fund will be transferred to your bank account as soon as the original documents are cleared.

Please contact:

Mr. Emmanuel Ihemedu
Email: ihemedu@rediffmail.com

Do get back to me ASAP if you are still interested in claming your fund.

God bless,

Nicholas Johnson
CBN Scientist

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam