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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ben ozobia" <beno1020@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: benozobia@myway.com
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:29:49 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF ENGR.BEN OZOBIA

FROM THE DESK OF ENGR.BEN OZOBIA
PETROLEUM TRUST FUND OFFICE.
CONTRACT AWARD DEPARTMENT.
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

Dear Sir/Madam

I am Engr Ben Ozobia. ,chairman contract award committee for the petroleum
special trust fund.I know these letters will come to you as a surprisesince
you do not know me in person please bear with us.we are in search for a
reliable and honest partner abroad that we can entrust with the sum of
US$25million (Twenty- five Million United States Dollars Only)These funds
originated from some contracts we executed for the petroleum trust fund
(PTF) Purpose for the supply and installations of oil-pipeline to
Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries.

This contract has been executed and full payments have been made to the
ontractors who executed these contract leaving behind US$25 Million United
state dollars an Over-invoice/commission for we the committee members to
benefit In view of this, my colleagues have mandated me to look for a
foreign partner abroad who will receive these fund on our behalf for mutual
benefits hich means that you will provide us with any account of your choice
we can lodge these fund immediately.

DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUND IS AS FOLLOWS:
30% of the total sum will be your share for providing us an account While
65% will be for me and my colleagues of the PTF 5% will be an outstanding
amount to settle any incurred expenses during he transfer of fund by both
parties I will be visiting your country upon your
confirmation in receipt of fund n your nominated account to know you better
and discuss investment or mportation of goods to African markets.

WE ASSURE YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS LEGAL AND 100% RISK FREE AS ALL
MODALITIES HAVE BEEN PERFECTED BY US WITH OUR CONNECTION IN GOVERNMENT TO
SEE THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM IN YOUR COUNTRY What matters most is
Honesty and Confidentiality of this transaction on your side.
If this proposal do interests you, please do not hesitate to email me as a
matter of urgency with your contact phone and fax numbers so that I can call
you for more details for your understanding.

Best Regards

Engr Ben Ozobia.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam