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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:
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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)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Ernest Obi" <ernestobi2@msn.com>
Reply-To: ernest_obi2005@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:36:21 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: MR ERNEST OBI(YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS.

FROM THE DESK OF: MR ERNEST OBI
DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE /
FOREIGN OPERATIONS.

ATTENTION: SIR,

YOUR OVER INHERITANCE FUNDS 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 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 JANET WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS:ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT Number: 6503809428.

PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS
WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME.
THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR,EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE
SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITTANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND
ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,INTERNATIONAL

REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN
INHERITTANCE FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.HOWEVER,WE SHALL
ROCEED
TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.WHITE,IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM
YOU WITHEN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY.
CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.
BEST REGARDS,

MR ERNEST OBI

DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE /
FOREIGN OPERATIONS.
CC: ALL FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS
CC: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam