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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "www.cenbank.org" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +2348116307200
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.
- drlukecwalters@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
<drlukewaltersc@cenbank.org>
Reply-To: <drlukewaltersc@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2014 08:32:05 +0100
Subject: KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR PAYMENT TO SAVE COST AND TIME

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
PLOT 33, ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA WAY
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, CADASTRAL ZONE,
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA NIGERIA.
CBN WEBSITE: www.cenbank.org

FROM: DR LUKE C. WALTERS (SAN)
LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA HEAD OFFICE

November 3, 2014

TO YOUR KIND ATTENTION

Sir,

It's rather very unfortunate that, you have made up your mind to continue in your previous fruitless and wasteful efforts despite my offer to help you officially process the release of your funds even at my own cost.

You will never receive even one cent of dollar of your claim without the processing, signing, seal and Notary of the original/hard copies of your payment release classified documents by various Government authorities with the Central Bank of Nigeria to confirm/ascertain the legitimacy of your contractual/inheritance claim.

The Classified documents include the following:

1. Your Payment agreement
2. Your fund final release order
3. The payment voucher
4. Your payment order
5. Exchange control approval
6. Payment validation approval
7. The fund ownership Certificate.
8. Fund origin Certificate of Legitimacy
9. Federal Ministry of Finance Payment Clearance/Allocation Order etc.
10. Presidency Approval and Irrevocable Guarantee Bond
11. Deposit Confirmation order
12. Certificate of Fund ownership
13. Official FMJ Fund Clearance Certificate
14. Fund ownership clearance certificate,
15. Clean Bill Clearance Certificate

I told you that, I will take care of the official processing, to pay the necessary fees and take care of the Notary of these documents US$23,800.00 which is all I have in my savings account to process officially

All I need from you is either come to Abuja, Nigeria for the signing or pay the shipment fee so that I will send them to your address for signing because, after spening the US$23,800 which is all I have in my savings account to process these officially, I cannot afford the shipment fee if you cannot come to Nigeria for the signing.

If coming to Nigeria for the signing of the original/hard copies of these classified documents or payment of the shipment fee which cannot be more than or up to US$500 only is your reason to continue in your previous fruitless and wasteful efforts, I wish you all the best of luck.

As far as you don't have these documents, you cannot lay claim of this payment and no 1 cent of dollar will be released to you without them been processed, endorsed by you and the various Government authorities, sealed and taken to Notary.

Thanks and good luck.

Best regards,

Dr. Luke C. Walters (SAN)
Head Of Department, Legal Services
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
E-mail: drlukecwalters@lawyer.com
Direct Phone: +2348116307200

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam