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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.

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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:
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "contract review panel" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (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: ABDUKAREM MUSA <abdukaremmusa@myguide.com>
Reply-To: abdukaremusa@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 04:25:11 -0700
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME



REF:CONFIDENTIAL.
BUISNESS PROPOSAL: TRANSFER OF US$42.462M(FORTY-TWO
MILLION,FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS) & BUISNESS PARTNERSHIP.
Dear Sir,
First, I must solicit your strictest confidents in this transaction,
this is by virtue of its nature as been utterly confidential and top
secret i decided to contact your office with full hope that you will
not disappoint or betray me at the end of this deal.
We are top officials from the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing
(FMW&H),Federal Ministry of Finance and the presidency, making up the
contract review panel(CRP) set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria
to review contracts awarded by the past democratic administration. In
the course of our work in the CRP,We discovered that,
this fund which resulted from grossly over-invoiced contract
executed for the FMW&H during the last administration. The companies
that executed the contract have been duly paid and the contracts
commissioned leaving the
sum of US$42.462M floating in the Escrow, I
have therefore been mandated as a matter of trust by my colleagues in
the panel to look for an oversea partner to whom we could transfer the
sum of US$42.462M by legally subcontracting the contract entitlement
to your company. We have agreed that the funds will be shared thus
after it has been transferred into your account.
(1) 35% of the money will go to your account for acting as
beneficiary of the fund.
(2) 60% to us the government officials (we wish to commence an
incorporation business in conjunction with you.
(3) 5% has been set aside as an abstract projection to both parties
for incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course of this
transaction.
All logistics are in place and all modalities worked out for the
smooth conclusion of the transaction within ten to fourteen working
days of commencement after receipt of the following information from
you. your full name and company name, address, company details
and
activities,private telephone & fax numbers.

this information will enable us to make application and lodge
claims to the concerned ministries and agencies in favor of your
company and it is pertinent to state that this transaction is based
entirely on trust as the solar bank draft or certified cheque drawable
in any of the Central Bank of Nigeria OR EcoBank correspondent Bankers
in Europe is going to be made in your name.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter through the Email for
now

Thanks, God Bless.

Yours faithfully
Abdukarem musa

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam