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:
- "his direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "abuja" (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.
- +2348077930392 (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.
- accountant_general_nig001@yahoo.com.cn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: presidency office <presidency00028@msn.com>
Reply-To: <accountant_general_nig001@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 09:11:53 +0000
Subject: ECONOMIC ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT, Contract Payment Release Bond
has been endorsed today 5th Sept 2011,

THE PRESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ECONOMIC ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT
ASO ROCK WUSA ABUJA PHASE II

From: DR. ALEX MAGNUS
Economic Adviser to the President)

Attn: Contract Beneficiary

CONTRACTORS /CREDITOR WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA YOU HAVE TWO WEEKS MANDATE TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT.

Based on the meeting held with the office of the New President DR GOOD LUCK JONATHAN, office the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Paris Club, Accountant general of Nigeria office and the 14 member committee inaugurated by the office of the Presidency to verify and remit all outstanding over due contract payment such as your payment to Foreign contractors.

It is my pleasure to inform you officially that the office of the New ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA has been mandated to commence the swift transfer of your over due contract fund into your designated bank account details, in lieu of this you are urgently requested to contact the ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OFFICE for swift wire ALHAJI IBRAHIM DANKWOBE on his direct line Tel 234-8077930392 , or email: accountant_general_nig001@yahoo.com.cn to enable your fund reflect in your account within the next 12 banking hours as stipulated by the presidency. Do reply via this email: accountant_general_nig001@yahoo.com.cn

You are hereby instructed to stop all further contact with any other person/office in respect to your over due contract funds with the Nigeria Government for failure to adhered to our directives will automatically result to the cancellation of your immediate contract payment .

Note that all necessary arrangements has been concluded by THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT and the Senate House Committee on Foreign contract payment wish to inform you that your Contract Payment Release Bond has been endorsed today 5th Sept 2011, and forwarded to the ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA for immediate release of your overdue contract fund. You are hereby instructed to contact only the ACCOUNTANT GENERAL, ALHAJI IBRAHIM DANKWOBE on his Telephone number: Tel:234-8077930392, we are informed that your contract proceedings will be credited to your bank account immediate you contact ACCOUNTANT GENERAL today
Congratulation

Yours truly
DR. ALEX MAGNUS
(Economic Adviser to the President

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam