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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +2347033241232
• 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.
  • ibtc112@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Bank of Nigeria Central" <profcharlescsoludo@mailbox.hu>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:55:39 -0700
Subject: Attention: ATM Card Beneficiary,


**
*CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
**OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Zaria Street, Off Samuel Akintola Street,
Garki 11, Garki-Abuja.*
**
* Our Ref: FGN/CBN/NIG/06/2007. Your
Ref...............................*
**
*From The Desk Of
Prof. Charles Soludo
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)*
**
**
*SUBJECT: Immediate Release of Your FUND Via ATM CARD*
**
*Attention: ATM Card Beneficiary, *
**
*I wish to use this medium to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE
Payment of USD$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars) from
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward transfer
to you via an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the
USD$10,000,000.00 in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but
the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$10,000.00 Only*
**
*We have mandated IBTC CHARTERED BANK PLC, to send you the ATM CARD and PIN
NUMBER which you will use to withdraw all your USD$10 Million Dollars in any
ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can
withdraw in a day is USD$10,000.00 Only.*
**
*You are therefore advice to contact the Head of ATM CARD Department of IBTC
CHARTERED BANK PLC;*
**
*Contact Person: Mr. John Uba,*
*Office email address: ibtc112@hotmail.com *
*Open phone number: +234 7033241232.*
**
*Tell Mr. Joseph Obi, that you received a message from the CENTRAL BANK OF
NIGERIA. Instructing him to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER which you
will use to withdraw your USD$10 Million Dollars in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE
in any part of the world, also send him your direct phone number and contact
address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you.*
**
*We are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the past years.
Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept our
congratulations.*
**
*Best Regards.*
* ***
**
*Prof. Charles C. Soludo.
Executive Governor, *
*Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam