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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:
  • "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348022093331 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: johnson ikeh <jike_son@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <johnsonikeh_citibanko0@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:00:55 +0100
Subject: RE: PAYMENT ON ACCRUED INTEREST OF US$3.5,M



MR JOHNSON IKEHDIRECTOR CITI BANK N.A NIGERIAREMIITANCE DEPARTMENT/TELEX SWIFT UNITTELE:234-8022093331

RE: PAYMENT ON ACCRUED INTEREST OF US$3.5,M ATTENTION:SIR,
This is to officially inform you that the sum of US$3.5,million has been accrued as interest on your contract sum that was deposited into our bank by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) before the principal sum was withdrawn by our Apex bank i.e. Central Bank of Nigeria CBN to pay some of our local contractors. Now we are ready to pay you this fund by International Certified Bank Draft payable in all International Banks including your own bank. For your information and advice, you need to hasten up to pick this Draft because from time to time the C.B.N auditors do come to our bank to cross-check our files and our financial update, the earlier you comply with the demands of the delivery of the fund, the faster the action, because the CBN officials wants the accrued interest to be paid to them but we refused and reported them to the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission who have now given us the instruction and mandate to pay you this fund. So you have to do your best to claim this fund as quickly as possible because when they find out that this interest fund is still in our bank they will want to call back the money to the Federal Government treasury. What we need from you now is any form of your identification for example; your international passport or you’re drivers license, then your direct telephone, Fax numbers and email address for easy communication with your mailing address where this Draft will be delivered to you.
As a matter of fact we don’t have enough time to waste since we have wasted time in contacting you since this incident occurred. So try and comply with the entire necessary requirement for the dispatch of this Draft to your confidential address.Contact me as soon as possible Expecting your immediately response.Yours Sincerely, Dr.johnson IkehManaging DirectorCITI BANK OF NIGERIA
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam