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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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.
  • +2348037161983 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "alexander williams" <alexanderwilliams_198@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:59:32 +0000
Subject: Great Business Relationship

From: Dr .ALEXANDER
WILLIAMS
Contract Award Committee
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
NNPC Towers, Kofo Abayomi, Lagos,Nigeria
Mobile Corporate Tel.:+234-803-7161983



Dear Sir,

Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and if it
might offend you without your prior consent and writing through this
channel. I am Dr. ALEXANDER WILLIAMS, The Secretary, of the Contract Award
Committee (CAC) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC). I got your contact through my country’s foreign trade mission after
I was convinced in my mind that you or your company can act as the
beneficiary of the USD10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars only)
Which we intend to transfer into a foreign account. This fund was a residue
of the over invoiced contract bills awarded by us for the TURN AROUND
MAINTENANCE (TAM) of our Refineries in WARRI, PORT-HARCOURT and KADUNA and
also the Supply of hard/soft wares, pharmaceuticals/medical items, light and
heavy duty vehicles, apparels and other administrative logistics for the
NNPC.

Therefore, we have resolved to go into partnership with you to transfer the
sum of US$10m into your account, by awarding your company an invented
contract to the tune of US$10m. While we must carryout proper documentation
to ensure that this is 100% risk-free for you and all the legal requirements
are met. It is however agreed, as the account owner in this deal to allow
you 30% of the entire sum as compensation, 60% will be held on trust for us
while 10% will be used to defray any incidental charges and costs during the
course of the transaction. This transaction will be successfully concluded
within 14 Bank Working days. If you accord to us your unalloyed and due
cooperation. Be rest assured that this proposal is 100% risk-free and
please, keep this very confidential, as we are still civil servants in
active service and are bounded by the civil service commission acts of
Nigeria.
This acts Prohibits Civil Servants (like us) from owning/operating foreign
accounts. This is the only reason we contacted you and where you come
into this transaction.

Finally, I wish to assure you that all the machinery and logistics that will
ensure a successful and smooth transfer have been put in place. Since
we are going to use our connections in the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF)
and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to effect the immediate transfer
of the funds. Please endeavor to reply for a more detailed information. I
anticipate your urgent response. Thank you and

God bless you.

Dr. ALEXANDER WILLIAMS
Secretary, Contract Award Committee (CAC)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam