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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
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.
- +23412138546 (Nigeria, landline)
- +2348067452701 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- debtmanagementoffice57@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF NIGERIA" <presidency00004@yahoo.es>
Reply-To: debtmanagementoffice57@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:40:56 +0200
Subject: PLEASE RECONFIRM YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER SO THAT I WILL GIVE IT TO THE
DELGATES TOMORROW AS SOON AS THE ARRIVE YOUR COUNTRY

FROM THE DESK OF:
DR. KAYODE WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN
DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE 234-1-213-8546
MOBILE PHONE = 234-806-745-2701
EMAIL, debtmanagementoffice57@gmail.com

ATTN: HONORABLE BENEFICIARY

RE: IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE
PAYMENT SUM VIA CASH DELIVERY

This is to officially inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria
has approved your payment via CASH DELIVERY

The government has taken it upon itself to sanitize all the arrangement
towards the release of contract payments avoiding all cumbersome
bureaucratic bottle neck that has been causing prolong delays to the
release of contract payments. Hence the president has therefore mandated
this office to release payment to contractors within a short period of
five (5) days from the day of notice.

Based on the information contained in your contract file and records
submitted to us from NNPC, CBN, COMMERCIAL BANKS and IMF your name was in
the list of category “A” contractors whose payments have been verified and
approved with the records indicating that your payment has long been over
due. To speedy up this arrangement, the government has delegated two
diplomats to deliver this cash to your doorstep in your country. They
will leave Nigeria today and they will arrive your country tomorrow. You
are therefore advised to immediately contact this office via their
telephone number: 234-1-213-8546 via E-mail:
debtmanagementoffice57@gmail.com respectively for further directives.

You are also advised to reconfirm your confidential address and phone
number so that they will communicate you as soon as they arrived based on
the strength of the government present policies passed into law by the
National Assembly to foster the release of all contract payments or
inheritance payment, your contract file and other information of your
payment was approved. Hence the approval for the release of your payment
by cash delivery, the cash was approved in your name as the beneficiary.

HOWEVER IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH DRAFT PAYMENT, YOU ARE ADVICE TO
INFORM US ON YOUR CHOICE OF PAYMENT.THIS TRANSACTION WILL LAST WITH 48
HOURS.CONGRATULATION IN ADVANCE.
Yours faithfully,

DR. KAYODE WILLIAMS
DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF NIGERIA

NOTE: You are advised to call this office as soon as you received this fax
on this number telephone 234-1-213-8546 via MOBILE PHONE 234-806-745-2701
you are also to reconfirm your confidential address and phone number so
that they can communicate you as soon as the arrive.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam