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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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.
- +2348038115722 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- revmmorbainnocent@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- innocent morba immediately you send the info on revmmorbainnocent@rocketmail.com to enable him release your transaction #(number) for (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Jose Kofo <mrsjose_kofo@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: revinnocentmmorba@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 15:38:43 +0000
Subject: YOUR APPROVED FUND HAS BEEN WIRED, PLEASE CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF THE
TRANSFERRED AMOUNT.

--
ATTN,

SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR SETTLEMENT OF FOREIGN DEBTS.
......................................................................................................................

FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSFER CODE XXIZ5342
......................................................................................................................

After series of investigations by the United Nations, International
Monetary Fund (I.M.F) and International Intelligent Monitoring Units, it
was found that a lot of debts were owed to various contractors, inheritors
and beneficiaries by African Banks. We also found that some beneficiaries
in particular have
spent thousands of dollars/Euros in getting their fund but not fruitful.

We have traced your transactions with other African States of which have
yielded nothing. We have no reservation to inform you that your fund is
credited to your Bank account.

I hereby inform you that your funds were finally transferred to your
account on Friday 21st, Jan , 2015 from our Telex Dept. Office in Lagos ,
Nigeria Address: KNIGHTSBRIDGE INTL BKNG CTRE DEPT P.O BOX 9042 , BOWATER
HOUSE, 65 KNIGHTSBRIDGE Lagos SWIX 7 BW. Nigeria .

We are not comfortable because you have not contacted us to confirm that
you have received your funds in your account. Therefore, you are advice to
re-confirm your Banking details immediately to help us cross-check your
transaction with our Banking Telex.

Make sure you call Rev. Innocent Morba immediately you send the info on
revmmorbainnocent@rocketmail.com to enable him release your transaction
#(number) for you to re-check your funds with your Bank.

E-mail; Rev. Innocent Morba , Director, Telex Dept. Eco Bank Plc Lagos
,Nigeria . On revmmorbainnocent@rocketmail.com and call Tel: +234
8038115722
Thanks. Yours Faithfully,

Mrs. Jose Kofo ,

Director, Federation Accounts Dept.
Eco Bank Plc Lagos , Nigeria .
E-mail: mrsjosekoffo@rocketmail.com
Tel: +234 802 370 7793

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam