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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (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 next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • tonyeze2000@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "tonyeze Gazeta.pl" <tonyeze@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 02:32:59 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend Your Urgent Reply Is Needed


**

* *
**

*CHAIRMAN TENDER BOARD*
*OF NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM*
*CORPORATION (N.N.P.C*
Dear Friend Your Urgent Reply Is Needed
Email (tonyeze2000@yahoo.fr)
Dear ,

I guess this letter may come to you as a surprise since I had no previous
correspondence with you. I am the chairman tender board of Nigeria national
petroleum corporation (NNPC).

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 fifty million seven hundred thousand united states dollars
($50.7m) 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 2008 by
NNPC, to a foreign company for the turn around maintainers of Nigeria oil
refineries in Kaduna state, delta state, and Lagos state of Nigeria.
thecontract has long been executed and payment of the actual contract amount
made to the foreign contractor leaving the balance of $50.7m US dollars in a
dormant account which my colleagues and I now want to transfer out of
Nigeria into a reliable foreign account for our personal use.

As civil servants, we are not allowed by the law to operate a foreign bank
account.therfore it becomes necessary to look for a foreign company with the
capability to act as the original beneficiary of the contract. my dear, it
is a good thing that the president has endorsed the resolution passed by the
senate that all foreign contractors owned by the federal government of
Nigeria should be paid, we will seize this good opportunity to spurport you
as one of the beneficiaries to be paid.
If you are interested in this proposal kindly send 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 in which in any case
your interest will be properly taken care off. meanwhile, my colleagues and
I have decided to share the money in the following ratio: 70% for my
colleagues and I, then 20% for you the account owner and 10% for all local
and international expenses that may arise in the course of this transaction.
Further details about this transaction will be discussed in the subsequent
correspondence.

This transaction is strictly confidential but 100% risk free for both of
us. Note also that the particular nature of your business is irrelevant to
this transaction and this transaction is expected to be concluded within 14
bank working days since all local contacts and arrangements have been
properly perfected for a smooth and successful conclusion of this
transaction.
please you are reduired to fill this and return to me also to enable us to
be fast.

Your Full Name...................
Address..........................
Age.....................................
Occupation.....................
Your Phone Number..............
Country And State...............

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
ENG TONY EZE
CHAIRMAN (TBNNPC).


*Thanks . *
**
REGARD

TONY


* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam