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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:

• 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:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "lagos" (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 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.
  • +2348033907833 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +23417591176 (Nigeria, landline)
• 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.
  • tony_elumelu1976@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Tony Elumelu <tonyubaplc.2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <tonydirectorubaplc@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 11:22:35 +0000
Subject: PAYMENT APPROVAL / REMITTANCE NOTICE





UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC
HEAD OFFICE: UBAHOUSE
37 MARINA, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
TEL: 234-803-390-7833, FAX: 234-1-7591176
EMAIL: tony_elumelu1976@sify.com

DEAR SIR,

PAYMENT APPROVAL / REMITTANCE NOTICE

WE ARE OBLIGED TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AN INWARD REMITTANCE ORDER
FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE INSTRUCTING
US TO CONTACT YOU AND REMIT YOUR CONTRACT / INHERITANCE FUNDS INTO YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT.

HOWEVER, HANDLING THIS TRANSFER WITH EXTREME AND VIVID CAREFULNESS FOLLOWING
THE HIGH RATE AND VOLUMINOUS FRAUDS GOING ON HERE AND THERE UNDER THIS DISPENSATION,
BASED ON THAT WE CANNOT REMIT THIS FUNDS IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT FIRST CONTACTING
YOU TO FIND OUT THE FOLLOWING SECURITY ORIENTED INFORMATION VIS:

1. BENEFICIARY NAME / ADDRESS
2. YOUR TELEPHONE NO. / FAX NO.
3. COMPLETE BANK DETAILS INCLUDING BANK ADDRESS.
4. OCCUPATION
5. AGE AND MARITAL STATUS

THE MOMENT THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, WE WILL COMPARE IT WITH WHAT WE HAVE
IN OUR CENTRAL COMPUTER AKI-ROOM/SYSTEM HERE, IF IT IS IN COMMORANCE WITH YOUR GIVEN
INFORMATION, WE WILL IMMEDIATELY WIRE YOUR CONTRACT / INHERITANCE FUNDS SWIFTLY
INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

PLEASE YOU ARE ADVISED TO COMPLY WITH THESE DIRECTIVES IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO
ENABLE US INCLUDE YOUR FILE IN OUR PAYMENT MASTER LIST (PML) WHICH HAS BEEN
APPROVED FOR IMMEDIATE / FINAL REMITTANCE AT THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, 2009
WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE ON THE ABOVE PHONE, FAX NUMBER AND EMAIL.

REGARDS AND GOD BLESS YOU.

MR. TONY ELUMELU
GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam