419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447011174206 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- officialmatters00001@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Tom Corbett,SUM OF US$15.5MILLION" <officialmatters000001@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: officialmatters00001@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 19:11:56 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: RE:INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
US$15.5MILLION

RE:INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$15.5MILLION
BARCLAY S BANK PLC LONDON.
CLAPHAM JUNCTION BRANCH,
7 ST JOHNS HILL,
SW 11 1 TN, LONDON

RE:INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$15.5MILLION

We at this bank wish to congratulate and inform you that
after thorough review and evaluation of your Inheritance/Contract
funds in conjunction with the World Bank Auditor General and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment report, your payment
file was forwarded to us for immediate transfer of the above
quoted amount to your designated bank account from their off
shore account with us.

The reports given to us shows that you have been going through
hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your
funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.We ther
efore advice that you stop further communication with any
correspondence outside this office The only thing required
from you is to obtain the Non-Residential Tax Clearance
here in Lonodon to enable us credit your account directly
by telegraphic transfer and send copies of the funds transfer
release documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.

Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited
and reflect in your account within five (5) bank working days
from the day you obtain this Non-Residential Tax Clearance .

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification,
kindly forward your FULL CONTACT ADDRESS, TELEPHONE and FAX
NUMBERS directly to my Private E-mail:officialmatters00001@yahoo.co.jp

Yours in service,
Tom Corbett,
Executive Assistant Director,
Barclays Bank Plc, London.
Call+447011174206

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam