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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
  (+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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • revjohnwilliams1@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: rev john <rev_6_johnwilliams@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 02:59:37 -0400
Subject: YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT



CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA CENTRAL BANK FACT FINDING & SPECIALDUTIES OFFICE TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS.

DEAR SIR,I AM REV. JOHN WILLAIMS, A SENIOR STAFF WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN). I AM WRITING YOU THIS LETTER BECAUSE COOL PENNY IS BETTER THAN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT IS BETTER FOR ONE TO LIVE AND DIE A POOR HONEST MAN THAN A RICH DISHONEST ONE. I AND THE CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER (CSO) OF OUR BANK HAVE ARRANGED WITH AN OFFICER IN COMPUTER SECTION ENGINEER CHUKA ILOH TO BRING OUT PART OF YOUR TOTAL CONTRACT SUM AMOUNTING TO US$12 MILLION. WHY WE DID THIS IS BECAUSE ACCORDING TO INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE BANK'S COMPUTER, YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME TO RECEIVE YOUR MONEY WITHOUT SUCCESS. AS I FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE ALMOST MET ALL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CBN IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT, YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT OF INTEREST GROUPS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR PAYMENT AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE MERELY DOING PAPER WORKS WITH YOU AND THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU RECEIVE FAX , PHONE AND EMAIL MESSAGES FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN NIGERIA EVERYDAY. ALSO WE FOUND OUT THAT SOME OF THE OFFICIALS OF THE PARASTATALS HAVE BEEN EXTORTING A LOT OF MONEY FROM YOU WITH THE PRETEXT OF HELPING YOU RECEIVE TO YOUR MONEY. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS MAY LAST FOR YEARS YET NOTHING HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT DO AWAY WITH THOSE OFFICERS THAT YOU CALL YOUR PARTNERS. AND FOR SECURITY REASONS DO NOT TELL ANYBODY THAT YOU HAVE YOUR MONEY UNTIL YOU RECEIVE CASH AT YOUR DOORSTEP.THE MONEY IS IN TWO SECURITY-PROOF BOXES WEIGHING 110KG EACH, THAT IS 22OKG FOR THE TWO BOXES, YESTERDAY WE WENT TO FOUR COURIER COMPANIES TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS ON HOW TO SHIP THEM BY COURIER TO YOU. THE COURIER WE VISITED ARE: DHL, EMS, FEDEX AND TNT COURIER AND THEY ALL SAID THAT THEY MUST OPEN THE BOXES FOR INSPECTION BY THE CUSTOMS BEFORE SHIPMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO AVOID BECAUSE THE BOXES WERE PADDED WITH MACHINE. WE TOLD THE COURIER COMPANY THAT THE BOXES CONTAINS PHOTOGRAPHIC AND FILM MATERIALS AND WHEN OPEN WILL LOOSE ITS EFICANCY. WE DID NOT DECLARE MONEY BECAUSE COURIER DO NOT CARRY MONEY. TODAY A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A DIPLOMAT DISCLOSED TO ME THAT THERE IS COURIER COMPANY THEY USE TO SEND DIPLOMATIC MATERIALS AND INFORMATION FROM ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER.THAT HAS DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND CANNOT BE INSPECTED BY ANY CUSTOMS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THE NAME OF THE COURIER SERVICE IS OXFORD SECURITY COURIER SERVICE (OSCS). I WILL MEET THEM AS SOON AS I HAVE YOUR GO AHEAD ORDER. THE DIPLOMAT WILL HELP ME TO SECURE ALL THE REQUIRED IMMUNITY DOCUMENTS SO WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM.NOTE THAT WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT YOU MUST COMPENSATE US WITH TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$200,000.00) AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR MONEY. TO THIS EFFECT, YOU WILL SEND US A PROMISSORY NOTE OF COMPENSATING US TO THE TUNE OF TWO HUNDRED THOUSANDUNITED STATES DOLLAR (US$200,000.00) ALONG WITH YOUR ADDRESS FOR SENDING THE BOXES BY COURIER.PLEASE MAINTAIN TOP MOST SECRECY AS IT MAY CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IF FOUND OUT THAT WE ARE USING THIS WAY TO HELP YOU. DO NOT EVER TELL ANYBODY ABOUT THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR MONEY. I WANT TO HELP YOU BECAUSE SOMETHING IN ME IS TELLING ME THAT YOU ARE AN HONEST PERSON.WHEN WE CONCLUDED THIS AND YOU SEND OUR PROMISE, WE WILL HELP TO SHIP THE FINAL PART OF YOUR MONEY TO YOU. MAY THE GOOD LORD BE WITH US AS WE WAIT FOR YOUR REPLY. However you are advise to contact me with the below address at [revjohnwilliams1@yahoo.fr]

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
REV JOHN WILLIAMSDIRECTORCENTRAL BANK FACT-FINDING & SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICE
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam