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:
- "cotonou" (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.
- +22998276262 (Benin, probably a 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.
- alhajaamatullahahmed@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "President Federal Republic Of Nigeria" <presidentgoodluckjonathan@nigeria.gov.ng>
Reply-To: alhajaamatullahahmed@gawab.com
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 20:11:20 -0500
Subject: RE: PAYMENT NOTICE FROM DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN (GCFR)
PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

OFFICE OF DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN (GCFR)
PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF ARMED FORCES
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ASO ROCK-ABUJA, NIGERIA.

THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH THE BANK OF AFRICA, COTONOU,
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please be informed through this message that I Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
(GCFR), President Federal Republic of Nigeria have just instructed that a
message be sent to you regarding my instructions to my Special Assistant
on Foreign Debt reconciliation Alhaja Amatullah Ahmed to proceed to Bank
Of Africa (BOA) Cotonou, Republic of Benin today and liaise with the Bank
Of Africa (BOA) to Supervise the immediate Release of your payment for
this week.

Alhaja Amatullah Ahmed would arrive Cotonou, Republic of Benin by today
and you should call him on Republic of Benin phone number +229-98 27 62 62
Or E-mail: (alhajaamatullahahmed@gawab.com) make sure you contact her
immediately as she has my mandate to personally supervise the release of
your payment from the Bank Of Africa (BOA) in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Note that your payment would be released to you from our Crude Oil Bank
Account with the bank and due to the fact that I had been informed about
the difficulties you have experienced in the past regarding your payment,
I had instructed the bank to deduct all their banking charges from the
source and make things easier for you, for this reason I had mandated
Alhaja Amatullah Ahmed (my Special Assistant on Foreign Debt
reconciliation) to visit the bank and supervise the immediate release of
your payment.

Note: You are required to furnish her with the following to enable the
bank to work on your payment without any delays:
1) Your Full Name
2) Your Complete Address (Physical Address with Zip Code
3) Your Full Bank Details
4) Direct Telephone Number/Fax Number
5) Your Identification, either driver’s license or international passport

Should you require the bank to also issue you any Cash Cards (ATM, Visa or
Gold Card) please feel free to request from them, this gesture is a sign
of my Governments goodwill for a this year 2011 to you as we have
successfully transferred the payments of many of our Foreign Creditors so
make use this last opportunity and have your payment released to you by
contacting the said Alhaja Amatullah Ahmed and have your fund released to
you.

Yours in Service
DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN (GCFR)
PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
E-MAIL: presidentgoodluckjonathan@nigeria.gov.ng
NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: http://www.nigeria.gov.ng

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam