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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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 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.
  • bell_mohd2@latinmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Bello Mohammed" <s15projects@rediffmail.com>
Date: 16 Feb 2007 02:33:27 -0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR CONSENT TO PROCEED: URGENTLY


Dear Sir/Madam,

&nbsp;
I am Mr. Bello Mohammed a computer scientist with central bank of Nigeria. I am 26 years old, just started work with C.B.N. I came across your file which is marked X and your released disk painted RED I took time to study it and found out that you have paid
VIRTUALLY all fees and certificate but the fund has not been released to you.

&nbsp;
The most annoying thing is that they cannot tell you the truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you, instead they let you spend money unnecessarily. I do not intend to work here all the days of my life; I can release this fund to you if you can certify me of my security and how I can run away from this Nigeria, if I do this, because if I don’t I will be seriously in trouble. My life will be in danger.

&nbsp;
Please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria, you may not understand it because you are not a Nigerian. The only thing I will need to release this fund is a special HARD DISK we call it HB2. You have to help me buy two of it, recopy your information, destroy the previous one, punch the computer for the fund to reflect in your bank within 24 banking hours. I will clean up the tracer and destroy your file, after which I will run away from Nigeria to meet
with you.

&nbsp;
If you are interested , do get in touch with me immediately via this email: bell_mohd2@latinmail.com. You should send to me your convenient tell/fax numbers for easy communications and also re-confirm the contract particulars and bank details, so that there won\'t be any mistake.

&nbsp;
Regards,
BELLO MOHAMMED

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam