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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (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 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.
  • drmaiwu@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Iwu Maurice" <drmauiwu51@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: drmauriwu@myway.com
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:22:39 -0700
Subject: DEAR SIR

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, ZAMBEZI
CRESENT, MAITAMA DISTRRICT.P.M.B
0184 GARKI, ABUJA-FEDERALCAPITAL
TERRITORY, NIGERIA.

SIR,

I GUESS THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE I HAD NO PREVIOUS
CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOU.I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL
COMMISSION (INEC) I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN THE COURSE OF MY SEARCH FOR A
RELIABLE PERSON WITH WHOM TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION
INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF FUND VALUED TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES
DOLLARS (US$10.5M) TO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT.THE ABOVE FUND IN QUESTION IS
NOT CONNECTED WITH ARMS, DRUGS OR MONEY LAUNDERING. IT IS THE PRODUCT OF
OVER INVOICE ON CONTRACT AWARDED IN JANUARY2003 BY INEC, TO A FOREIGN
COMPANY FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS THAT WAS USED FOR CONDUCTING
APRIL/MAY, 2003 ELECTIONS.


THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN EXECUTED AND PAYMENT OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT
MADE TO THE FOREIGN CONTRACTOR LEAVING THE BALANCE OF US$10.5M U.S DOLLARS
IN A DORMANT ACCOUNT WHICH MY COLLEAGUES AND I NOW WANT TO TRANSFER INTO A
RELIABLE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR OUR PERSONAL USE. AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE DO NOT
HAVE THE NECESSARY FOREIGN ACCOUNT MACHINERY TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THIS
TRANSACTION.THERFORE IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO SOURCE FOR A FOREIGN COMPANY
WITH THE CAPABILITY TO ACT AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OF THE CONTRACT.YOU
MAY ASK MY REASONS FOR GETING INVOLVED IN THIS.WELL, IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT
I SHOULD SECURE A FUTURE FINIANCIAL SECURITY FOR MY FAMILY AFTER MY
RETIREMENT WHICH IS DUE.(I AM ONLY MAKING HASTE WHILE THE SUN SHINES).


MY DEAR, IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ENDORSED THE RESOLUTION
PASSED BY THE SENATE THAT ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTORS OWED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA SHOULD BE PAID, WE WILL SEIZE THIS GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO
SURPORT YOU AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES TO BE PAID.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
THIS PROPOSAL KINDLY EMAIL TO ME YOUR LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE ALONG WITH YOUR
DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, BUT IF YOU CANNOT FOR ANY REASON HANDLE
THIS TRANSACTION I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE IT TO A RELIABLE
AND TRUST WORTHY PERSON WHICH IN ANY CASE, YOUR INTEREST WILL BE PROPERLY
TAKEN CARE OF AS MUCH AS YOU CAN LET IT BE CONFIDENCIAL, I WILL APPRECIATE
THE FACT THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT I AM A SERVING
PUBLIC SERVANT AT PRESENT AND MY POSITION VERY SENSITIVE.

MEANWHILE, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THE MONEY IN THE
FOLLOWING RATIO: 70% FOR MY COLLLEAGUES AND I, THEN 25% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT
OWNER AND 5% FOR ALL LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE
COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.FUTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE
DISCUSSED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE.THIS TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL BUT 100%RISK FREE. NOTE ALSO THAT THE PARTICULAR NATURE OF YOUR
BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION AND THIS TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED
TO BE CONCLUDED WITHIN FIVE (5) WORKING DAYS SINCE ALL LOCAL CONTACTS AND
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPERLY PERFECTED FOR A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL
CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION. IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE BY YOU,
PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR INTEREST VIA THE EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW FOR OBVIOUS
REASONS.THANKS.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR.MAURICE IWU.
(INEC CHAIRMAN)
drmaiwu@yahoo.com

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam