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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "DR QUASH" <offshorepymentcenter@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: hassandanjima@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 19:41:38 +0400
Subject: URGENT

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

Garki, Abuja,

NIGERIA

DEAR CONTRACTOR

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.

CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.

From the records of outstanding contractors
due for payment with the federal Government of
Nigeria, your name and company was discovered as
next in the list of the outstanding contractors who
have not received their payments.

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 my
record in my file your outstanding contract sum is 65
million,seven hundred thousand united states
dollars).



Please re-confirm to me if this is inline
with what we 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,

5) Scanned copy of int'l passport.

As soon as this information is received,
your payment will be made to you in a certified bank
draft or wired to your bank account directly from
central Bank of Nigeria and a copy will be given to
you for you to take to your bank and confirm it. you
must call me on my direct line for a very serious
discussion with you

Regards,

Dr Quash


Anti-fraud resources: