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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "charles c. soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • charlescharles_soludo001@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: charles120@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:30:08 -0800
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?URGENT=20REPLY?=



CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA
ISLAND,LAGOS NIGERIA
[OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR]



CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009,
Swift Code: BPH KPL PK,
A/C#: 329606=101244=169=678
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL BANK NIGERIA
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/04
Email...charlescharles_soludo001@yahoo.co.uk
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION AV/CONT/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009
ATTN : HONOURABLE BENEFICIARY ,
YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT . CONTRACT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.
Our records of outstanding contractors due for payment, with the federal
government of Nigeria, Your name was discovered as next on the list of the
outstanding contractors who have not received their payments. I am prof.charles
c.soludo. The executive governor central Bank Of Nigeria(CBN)

Firstly, I plead on behalf of my country and the Central Bank of Nigeria
for not contacting you all this while as regards your contract payment,
which I know by now, must have cost you some inconviniences, I am promising
You on behalf of the central bank of Nigeria that this will not repeat itself
any more.

I want you to know that your payment is valid and maintained with us here.
I have ensured that you receive your fund through an international certified
bank draft OR through banking wiring transfer, acceptable and payable to
you. I advice you to co-operate with me and listen to my advice as the
Central Bank of Nigeria (cbn) will not be held responsible for any lapses
or mis-direction of your fund due to your inability to co-operate with me
who is in-charge as the new elected executive governor of the central bank
of Nigeria (CBN).
I can not vividly explain how this payment was generated / occured to you,
but i was informed before I resumed my humble office in the month of may
2004 that a contract with the federal government was executed in your favor
by a foreign contractor, who at the point of execution did not receive his
payments. Coupled with the fact that the computer departments of the central
bank was burnt down some months ago before I resumed this humble office,
and all available informations as regards your informations that was dropped
by the foreign contractor was missing as well.

when we were able to trace burnt files we were only left with your email
address which I can not see clearly. When this payment notification was
forwarded to my humble office, I decided to contact you for immediate payment
in an international certified bank draft, or direct crediting to your norminated
banking account payable to you in your name .
I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released
to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from the record
in my file your outstanding contract payment is $18 million united states
dollars only (Eighteen million united states dollars only).

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record
and also re-confirm to me the followings
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
As soon as this informations are received, your payment will be made to
you in a certified bank draft or direct creditting to your bank account
from central bank of Nigeria .
You must get back to me immediately as soon as you go through this mail...
charlescharles_soludo001@yahoo.co.uk
CONGRATULATIONS.

Prof. Charles C. Soludo.
Executive governor,
Central bank of Nigeria (cbn).





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam