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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Bello Idewu" <bellobe01@msn.com>
Reply-To: bellobeidewu@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 04:40:41 +0000
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT

FROM THE DESK OF MR. BELLO IDEWU,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ CHIEF ACCOUNTANT,
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,
TINUBU SQUARE,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Tel: 234-1-290016,
Fax: 234-1-759012

ATTENTION : THE HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/2001.

Dear Beneficiary,

From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Federal government of Nigeria, your name was discovered as next on the list the outstanding contractors who have not received their payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.Also note that from the record in my file your outstanding contract payment is us $65.7 million dollars(Sixty-five million seven hundred thousand united states
dollars) only.

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me the followings :

1) Your full name and address

2) Phone, fax and mobile #.

3) Company's name, position and address.

4) Profession, age and marital status.

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you
in a certified bank draft from central bank of Nigeria and a copy will be given to you for you to take to your bank and cash it.
You must call me on my direct number as soon as you receive this letter for a serious discussion.

Best Regards,
Yours in-Service
Mr.BELLO IDEWU.
CBN, Lagos-Nigeria.

 

Anti-fraud resources: