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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • duncanwilliams148@katamail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: DUNCAN WILLIAMS <remitancedepartment@citigroupnigplc.com>
Reply-To: duncanwilliams148@katamail.com
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:22:20 -0600
Subject: CITI BANK OF NIGERIA

CITI BANK OF NIGERIA 
OFFICE OF FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CBN HEADQUARTER ANNEX, TINUBU SQUARE
TINUBU LAGOS NIGERIA.
DATE 25 03 2007

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT
CONTRACT#MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009

From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria,your name and company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not yet 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 my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is US$7 000,000.00 (seven million united states dollars).Kindly reconfirm to me the followings:

1) Your full name.---------------------------

2) Phone, fax and mobile #.----------------------------

3) company name, position and address.------------------------------------

4) profession, age and marital status.----------------------------------

5) Copy of int'l passport, drivers linsense,or any valid ID card.-------------------------

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you in a certified bank draft or wired to your nominated bank account directly from citi Bank of Nigeria.Pls reply me via my email address(duncanwilliams148@katamail.com) so that I can elucidate on how to proceed.

MR DUNCAN WILLIAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam