419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "terryjohnson_1956@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447024015732 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: BARCLAYS BANK OF UK <jacktomezebe@admin.in.th>
Reply-To: terryjohnson_1956@gala.net
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:15:41 +0700
Subject: RE: INSTRUCTIONS on how TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
US$30,000,000.00

BARCLAYS BANK OF UK
Barclays Bank PLC
1 Churchill Place
London, E14 5HP,United Kingdom
http://www.barclays.co.uk
+447 024 015 732

Dear Customer,

RE: INSTRUCTIONS on how TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
US$30,000,000.00

We at this bank wish to congratulate and inform you that after
thorough review of your Inheritance/Contract funds transfer release
documents in conjunction with the Central Bank and the International
Monetary Fund assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to us
for immediate transfer of a part-payment US$30 million United States
Dollars to your designated bank account from their offshore account
with us.

The Audit reports given to us shows that you have been going through
hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your
funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.

We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any
correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay any
money or fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole
funds transfer requirements.

The only thing required from you is to obtain the Non-Residential
Clearance Form to enable us credit your account directly by
telegraphic transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and
send copies of the funds transfer release documents to you and your
bankers for

confirmation.You Should follow our directives, your funds will be
credited and reflect in your bank account within five (5) bank
working days from the day you obtain this Non-Residential Clearance
Form.

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification,
kindly forward your FULL CONTACT ADDRESS, TELEPHONE and FAX NUMBERS
directly to :Mr. Terry Johnson email: terryjohnson_1956@gala.net

Yours sincerely,

Jockson Thompson
Information Officer,
Barclays Bank PLC, UK.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam