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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
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "TUNDE LEMO" <tundelemo7@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: tundelemoz@indiatimes.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 20:53:08 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT NOTICE


ATTENTION:BENEFICIARY,

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS OF $15.MILLIOM
DOLLARS,HAS BEEN GAZZETED TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT
)-DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE
FUND TRANSFER. MEANWHILE,A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A
LETTER,CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.HERE ARE HER INFORMATIONS
BELOW:

NAME:MRS JANET WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK,YORK.
BANK ADDRESS:NEW YORK, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF
URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE
HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME.AND ALSO RECONFIRM
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO US:

1.YOUR FULL NAMES.
2.YOUR PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER.
3.YOUR COMPLETE CONTACT ADDRESS,INCLUDING THE NAME OF YOUR CITY,STATE AND
COUNTRY.
4.YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION.
5.YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDS.OR YOU WILL RECEIVE
THE PAYMENT BE A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT.
6.YOUR CONTRACT AMOUNT.

THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR,EXECUTIVE,BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE
COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVERDUE INHERITTANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED
THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR,FINANCIAL
SECTOR,CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN
INHERITTANCE FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.

HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
MRS.WHITE,IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM
TODAY.

PLEASE NOTE THAT $15 MILLION DOLLARS,HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE
PAYMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.

BEST REGARDS, TUNDE LEMO,
DEPUTY GOVERNOR,(CBN)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam