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:
- "million 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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +2348121894315
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.
- james.west218@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) "
<efcc.ng.gov0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: efcc.ng.gov@presidency.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:27:41 +0000
Subject: RECEIVE YOUR COMPENSATION.

--
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC)
No. 5 Fomella, Street, Off Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent,
Wuse II, Abuja, Nigeria.

Attn: Sir/Madam,

I am Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde the Chairman - Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (EFCC) in alliance with Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) with Head Office here in Nigeria. We have been working
towards the eradication of fraudsters and scam Artists in Western part
of Africa.

With the help of United States Government and the United Nations (UN) we
have been able to track down so many of this scam artist in various
parts of West African Countries which includes (Benin, Burkina Faso,
Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia,
Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo)
including London - United Kingdom & some European Countries and they are
all in our custody here in Lagos - Nigeria.

We have been able to recover so much money from these scam artists. The
United Nation Anti-crime Commission and the United State Government have
Order the money recovered from the Scammers to be shared among 100 Lucky
people around the globe.

This mail is been directed to you because your Email Address was found
in one of the scam Artists file and computer hard disk in our custody
here in Nigeria. You are therefore be Compensated with US$1.2 Million
Dollars. Beware of People Who claims that they are Bank Officials or
Lottery Agents who has money for transfer or want you to be the next of
kin of such Funds which do not exist.

Since your Name appeared among the Beneficiaries who will receive a
compensation of US$1.2 Million Dollars we have arranged your payment to
be released to you immediately you respond to this email. Feel free to
contact Mr. James West - Payment Officer for further details on the
subject matter. You are advise to contact email:
Attn: Mr. James West
Email: james.west218@yahoo.com
Official Tel: +234-812-1894315

Provide the information below to enable him process your payment.

1. Your Full Names & Address.
2. Your Age, Sex & Marital Status.
3. Your Current Occupation.
4. Your Direct Telephone Number for easy communication
5. Copy of Your International Passport or Driver's License for easy
identification.

Yours In Service,

Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde - Executive Chairman
Economic and Financial Crime commission (EFCC)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam