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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
  (+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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "00,000.00" (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.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2347034279540
• 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.
  • atmpayments_dept@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "ATM PAYMENT FROM (CBN)" <atmpayments_dept@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:24:58 -1200
Subject: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND ACT AS INSTRUCTED

The CBN Head Office Complex,
Central Business District Abuja FCT.
Central Bank of Nigeria
Head Office Complex,
Central Business District Abuja FCT.
- Nigeria.

From The Desk Of:
Dr. Mrs. Juliet A. Madubueze (Board Member).


Attention: Beneficiary,


I am Mrs. Juliet A. Madubueze , Board Member of Central Bank
Of Nigeria (C.B.N), I am Instructed to officially inform you
that we have verified your contract/Lotto /inheritance file
and found out that why you have not received your payment is
because you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you
in respect of your contract/Lotto/inheritance payment.

Secondly, we have been informed that you are still dealing
with none officials in the bank all in your attempt to
secure the release of the fund to you. We wish to advise you
that such an illegal act like this has to stop if you wish
to receive your payment since we have decided to bring a
solution to your problem. Right now we have arranged your
payment through our SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTRE from European
Union, which is the latest instruction from the new elected
president Mr. President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yara'dua (GCFR)
Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This card center will send you an ATM card, which you will
use to withdraw your money in any ATM machine in any part of
the world, but the maximum is Twenty Thousand United States
Dollars ($20,000.00) per day. So if you like to receive your
fund in this way, please let us know and send the following
information as listed below to:

1. Full name
2. Phone and fax number
3. Address were you want them to send the ATM card to (P.O
box not acceptable)
4. Your age and current occupation
5. COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

We will forward your information to the director of ATM CARD
payment officer Chief Dr. Joshua Omuya (Board Member) upon
our receipt of the above information. Or you can call him.
This is his direct phone number and email: +2347034279540:
also send your reply to: atmpayments_dept@yahoo.co.uk

Note that the ATM card payment center was mandated to issue
out $2,300,000.00 as part payment for this fiscal year 2008
to you so bear with us. Also for your information, you have
to stop any further communication with any other person(s)
or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment.
Note that because of impostors, we hereby issued you our
code of conduct, which is (ATM-1616) so you have to indicate
this code when contacting the card center by using it as
your subject.

We anticipate your total compliance to this message
immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Juliet A. Madubueze (CBN Board Member)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam