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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into 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)
  • "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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Kola Devis" <koladeviss@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 14:39:48 -0700
Subject: YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS


*FROM THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE
MR.KOLA DEVIS(OFR)
FMF ANNEX COMPLEX BUILDING
GARKI, ABUJA
NIGERIA*
**
*YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS
Our Ref: CBN/FMF/CBX/021/07/009.
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:
MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/

Attention Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your notice about the due process of your outstanding
Contractual/Inheritance payment which was uspended by the Central Bank of
Nigeria there by stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your
contract/inheritance fund to your nominated bank account. As a result of
this development, verification conducted by the Finance Ministry in
conjunction with the Debt Verification Panel on your contract/inheritance
case,your file has been endorsed for payment awaiting your confirmations.

During the auditing and closing of all financial records of the Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN),it was discovered from the records of outstanding foreign
contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the
year 2006/2007 that your name and company is next on the list of those who
will received their fund.

Meanwhile, a man came to my office few days ago with a letter, claiming to
be your true representative. Here are his information for you to confirm to
this office if this man is truly from you or not,so that the federal
government will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account.

NAME: MR. JOHNSON WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man is
from you. you are requested to fill and send this information for
verifications purposes so that your fund will be remitted into your
nominated bank account. this fund is as a result of inheritance on your
behalf. information needed from you for verification is as follow:

(1) Your full name and address:
(2) Your age and marital status:
(3) Your occupation:
(4) Your telephone/fax number:
(5) Your nationality:

As soon as we receive this, we will commence with all necessary procedures
in other to remit this money into your account. The Central Bank
Governor,Executive Board of Directors and the Senate committee for foreign
over due inheritance fund have approved and accredited this reputable
ministry, with the office of the minister of finance on international
remittance/foreign operations,to handle and supervise the transfer of all
foreign inheritance funds for this first quarter payment of the year 2008.

However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said
Mr.White, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from
today. We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this
fund must have caused you.

Best Regards.
Mr. Kola Devis. *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam