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:

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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "publicity@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- 2348170061185

Fraud email example:

From: Publicity Personnel Central Bank of Nigeria {CBN}
<sdssys11@pearl.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: <publicity@admin.in.th>
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:09:16 +0100
Subject: Our Ref: Payment Notification

Our Ref: Payment Notification Your Ref: Comply with Notice

Good Day to you,

This is to officially inform you that we have completed the transfer of US$5M {Five Million United States Dollars} to our foreign reserve account with the Federal Reserve Bank in New York in your favor, where this funds would be released directly to you the beneficiary.

You are immediately advised to contact our fiduciary agent in the United States of America who is to work hand in hand with you to ensure that this fund reaches you as soon as possible.

Below is the contact detail of our fiduciary agent,

Mr. Dennis Melcher

Fund Fiduciary agent/ Intermediary representative

Phone: 1 865 590 8483

Email: dennis.melcher011@citynew.com

Be informed that this directive is from the office of the presidency Federal Republic of Nigeria and also in agreement with the United States Government, International monetary Fund, United Nations fund oversight office and the Federal Reserve Bank New York.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Collins Obey

Publicity Personnel Central Bank of Nigeria {CBN}

Phone: 234 817 006 1185

Email: publicity@admin.in.th

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam