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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: FRANCIS UBANI <fransubani8@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:45:48 -0600
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL


DEAR MR/MADAM
CONFIDENTIAL
I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOUDO NOT KNOW ME .I AM MR FRANCIS UBANI, I WORK IN THECENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, PACKAGING AND COURIERDEPARTMENT.
I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSONTHROUGH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE CENTRAL BANKWHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU .I WANT YOU TO HELPME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN OVERSEASWHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR CBN ACCREDITED COURIERAGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE IS$20,000,000.00 ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BUT THE COURIERCOMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE INTHE PACKAGE .
ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS THIS GIVE ME YOUR MAILING ADDRESSYOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY , YOU WILL HAVE30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME .MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BEREVEALED TO ANYBODY. IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BYYOU ,YOU CAN CALL E-MAIL ME FOR SECURITY REASONS OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GETBACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXESTO YOU . NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLYTHROUGH E-MAIL FOR SECURITY REASONS. YOURS FAITHFULLY, MR FRANCIS UBANI IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL AND FEEL THAT YOUWILL ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER, SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSSON HOW TO GET THE CONSIGNMENT OF MONEY DELIEVER TOYOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR SINCERITY TOWARDS THIS MATTER.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam