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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.

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:
  • "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +2348036277521 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. WARREN JACK"<warrenjack123456@bossmail.de>
Reply-To: <uba.info@oceanicbankng-plc.org>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 15:44:09 -0700
Subject: PART PAYMENT ARREARS

FROM: MR.WARREN JACK.
WIRE TRANSFER DEPARTMENT.
LONDON ENGLAND

H.S.B.C

PART PAYMENT ARREARS TOTALLING US$3.4 MILLION


Note: This e-mail may contain PRIVILEGED and CONFIDENTIAL information
and is intended only for the use of the specific individual(s) to which it
is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, you are
hereby notified that any unauthorized use, dissemination or copying of
this e-mail or the information contained in it or attached to it is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please delete it
and immediately notify the person named above by reply e-mail.Thank
you.


Message.


ATTN: Beneficiary,

We are pleased to inform you that we have negotiated instruction
with our correspondent Bank Oceanic Bank of Nigeria Plc. (OBN) to draw
US$3.4 million, which represent part payment of your contract fund from their
account with us and credit in your favor in settlement of a
contractinvolving the Nigeria government. The transfer is
revocable,indivisible and non-transferable.


This transaction has been secured with personal identification
computerized sealed Numbers, Contract Accreditation Pin No, Transfer
Access Code (Tag) and anti terrorist clearance certificate to enable us
identify the bonfire beneficiary and to avoid diversion of the fund to
wrong account.


Please contact the Director, Foreign Operations Oceanic Bank of Nigeria
Plc( OBN) Attn: Rev Peter Moses, on his telephone number: 2348036277521
or Email: (uba.info@oceanicbankng-plc.org ) with your Telephone, fax number and
Bank details to enable them release your fund to your nominated bank account
without any further delay. If we do not receive your information for
re-confirmation from you within 7 days from date of this email the
transfer will be null and void as we have many contractors to pay.



Be it known to you that your fund will be transferred into your
nominated bank accountant within five working days of receiving your required
information.you are advised to act fast regarding to this subject atter
as we have a limited time to conclude all payment in this first quarter of
the year 2009


For further enquiry you can contact this bank with the above telephone
number. We most sincerely sorry forever inconvenience as occasion in
this matter.

Yours truly,

HSBC BANK
LONDON ENGLAND
WIRE TRANSFER PROCESSING DIV.
MR.WARREN JACK.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam