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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "cost of transfer" (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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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.
- firstbanknigeria47@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: First Bank Of Nigeria <firstbank@bank.com>
Reply-To: firstbanknigeria47@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:38:39 +0200
Subject: Attn:Beneficiary, Directives On Your Overdue Payment That Is Ready
For Transfer.

Attn:Beneficiary

Dear Sir

This letter is written to you in order to change your life from today.I am Mr
John Thompson the Director, International Remittance Department of
this Bank, my
Boss, Mr. Jacobs M. Ajekigbe, the Managing Director/CEO of this Bank is now on
compulsory leave and all power have been vested on me to make all
international
payments. Also, due to reported cases of corrupt practices another
Nigeria Banks
including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Government has
revoked/cancelled all power vested on those Banks and have appointed our Bank
(First Bank of Nigeria) to make all foreign payments.

Your fund has been in this bank for many years unclaimed because my boss Mr.
Jacobs Ajekigbe have refused to tell you the truth on how to claim your fund
this is because he has been using the interest accumulated from your
fund every
year to enrich himself without your knowledge. I want to help you pull
out this
fund to your bank account using the easiest and the quickest method,
which have
not been made known to you before.By this method, you will open a domiciliary
account with this Bank (First Bank of Nigeria ), your fund would be
lodged into
this disciplinary account and your fund will be paid in directly to
any Bank of
your choice. After the transfer,you will confirm the fund in your Bank account
within 5hours the same day. No Cost of
Transfer (COT) and no stoppage from any Government departments as the transfer
will be done within the bank alone and it is very safe.

The method which was introduced to you before is the Telegraphic Transfer
(TT)for which confirmation was 48hrs, because of the time
factor,petitions could
come from various organizations stopping your payment and asking you
to pay huge
fee which would be difficult for you to pay so that they can benefit from the
huge interest your fund generates while still in the Bank.This method is not
safe for you because it is not done within the bank alone as
information of the
payment would be sent to the Central Control Unit (CCU) of the Federal
Ministry
of Finance and office of the Accountant General of the Federation. As a good
Christian, I have nothing to gain by keeping your fund,I want to assist you
receive your fund before my boss resumes office.

You have to follow up and work with me now, so keep this very confidential
because of fraudsters and impostors who goes about presenting various bank
accounts in order to divert another beneficiary's fund. Confirm to me through
this e-mail address,:(firstbanknigeria47@yahoo.com.hk) your present/valid
account co-ordinates and Amount to be claimed so that I do not transfer your
fund to the wrong Bank Account.

Awaiting your quick response.

Yours Truly,
Mr. John Thompson.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam