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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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 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 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.
  • +2347036801998

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 12:33:26 +0100
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:AV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009


*

FROM THE DESK OF PROFESSOR. CHARLES C. SOLUDO
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)*
*

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

ATTENTION: OUR HONORABLE CONTRACTOR,

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:AV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009

We Apologies, for the delay of your payment and all the inconveniences and
inflict this might have cause you. However, we were having some minor
problems with our payment system, which is enexplicable, and have held
incominicado and stranded for some time now as a result we were unable to
accredit foreign contract payments on time.

From the Records of outstanding contractorsdue for payment with the Federal
Government of Nigeria, your name and company was discovered as next on the
payment list of the outstanding contractors who are yet received their
payments. I wish to inform you now 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/file be for me, it shows that your
outstanding contract payment is US$10.2million (USA Dollars) only.
Kindly re-confirm to me the followings:
1) Your names in full .
2) Phone, fax
3) Company name, position
4) Profession, age and marital status.

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you in
a certified bank draft or wired Transfer into your nominated bank account
directly from central bank of Nigeria.

Oncemore I wish to say we are sorry for this delay, we promise it will not
happen again. Kindly accept of sincere apology.

Best regards.

Prof. Charles C..Soludo.

Direct Line: +2347036801998
Executive Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria.
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam