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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "% will be for you" (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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "christian brown" <cb_brown0296@msn.com>
Reply-To: cbcbrown538@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:17:31 +0000
Subject: From C . Brown.

Dear Friend,

I am a director in the foreign affairs department of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I got your email during a Personal research on
the Internet and wish to use this opportunity to notify you of the existence
of a certain amount we wish to transfer Overseas for the purpose of
investments and importation of goods from your country.In May 2006, a
contract of ninety-six million United States dollars ($96,000,000) was
awarded to a foreign company by my ministry.

The Contract was supply, erection and system optimization of supper
polyore200,000-bpsd, system optimization of 280,000-monax axial plants and
the computerization of conveyor belt for Kaduna refinery. With the Consent
of only the head of the contract evaluation department, I over Invoiced the
contract value by fifty-four million United States dollars
($54,000,000:00).The contract has since been completed and the foreign
company fully paid off. But in the office files and paper work, the company
is still owed USD54M representing the over invoiced amount. Because this
amount is derived from the award and execution of a foreign contract, there
is no way the money can be paid locally.

That is why I am contacting you requesting your permission to transfer the
USD54M to your bank account for our mutual benefit. We have concluded every
necessary arrangement to transfer this amount to a foreign bank account as
the final phase payment for the said contract.I solicit your assistance to
enable us transfer the said amount into your safe bank account and after we
shall come over there to share the money with you. You can either provide
me with an existing account or to set up a new bank account immediately to
receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve to receive this money, as
long as you will remain honest to me till the end of his important business
trusting in you and believing that you will never let me down either now or
in future.We sincerely need an honest person to work with and have agreed to
share the money in the following percentages, 65% will be for us, 30% will
be for you whose account will be used to secure the funds and
5% will be used to settle every expenses incurred during the ransaction like
air tickets etc.

There is no risk involvement because applications will be made to the
concerned Federal overnment ministries and parastatals with official
approvals given by the Federal government before the Central bank of Nigeria
will be officially authorized to wire the funds to your nominated bank
account by wire transfer. Those involved over here are irectors in the
ministry, they know how best to effect the transfer and will come over there
to collect their own share.If you are interested, contact me indicating
your full names or company or business name and address. Your direct
telephone and fax numbers for effective communication. The name and address
of the bank you will like us to deposit the money, the telephone and fax
numbers of the bank, the account name and number etc. Everything has been
arranged and I will send more information about the business transaction to
you as soon as I hear from you. For obvious reasons, please keep the
proposal top secret.

Kind regards,
Mr Christian Brown.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam