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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • +2348023822826 (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.
  • benard010@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "benard williams" <benardwilliams@msn.com>
Reply-To: benard010@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 13:31:16 +0000
Subject: YOUR OVER DUE PAYMENT WITH US.

FROM THE DESK OF MR.BENARD WILLIAMS,
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
TEL: 234-802-382-2826 E-MAIL: benard010@yahoo.com
Ref: YOUR OVER DUE PAYMENT WITH US

DEAR FRIEND,

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZZETED
TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU OR
THROUGH OUR LONDON OFFICE BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND
TRANSFER.MEANWHILE,A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A
LETTER,CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.HERE ARE HER INFORMATIONS .

NAME: CATHERINE WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS:ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF MRS.CATHERINE
WHITE IS ACTUALLY FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO HER ACCOUNT. IF THIS WOMAN IS NOT YOUR
REPRESENTATIVE AS SHE HAVE CLAIMED,YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND SEND
THE INFORMATIONS BELOW FOR VERIFICATIONS, SO THAT YOUR FUND VALUED US$15.5M
US DOLLARS WILL BE REMMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT
INFORMATION AS YOU MAY WANT.THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF
CONTRACT/INHERTANCE/LOTTO ON YOUR BEHALF.

1)YOUR NAME:.................................
2)YOUR FULL ADDRESS:.....................................
3)YOUR TELEPHONE ......................................
4)FAX......................................................
5)AGE........................................................
6)SEX:...........................................................
7)YOUR OCCUPATION...........................................
8)YOUR VALID ACCOUNT DETAILS:..................

AS SOON AS WE RECIEVE THOSE INFORMATIONS, WE WILL COMMERNCE WITH ALL
NESSCCARY PROCEEDURES IN OTHER TO REMMIT YOUR FUNDS TO YOUR NOMINATED
ACCOUNT. THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR, EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE
SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITTANCE/LOTTO FUND HAVE
APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK TO EFFECT YOUR PAYMENT WITHOUT
DELAY,TOGETHER
WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN
OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTS/INHERITTANCE/LOTTO
FUNDS AT THIS THIRD QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.

HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
MRS.WHITE,IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM
TODAY.WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCOVINENCE THE DELAY OF THIS FUND MAY HAVE
CAUSED YOU.

BEST REGARDS,

MR.BENARD WILLIAMS

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
CC: ALL FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS
CC: SENATE PRESEDENT
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam