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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +2348036885820 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • chikeofodile@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER CHIKE OFODILE" <chikeofodile_chambers2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: chikeofodile@sify.com
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 20:56:33 +0000
Subject: FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTION.

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE TO PROCEED WITH THE SUBMISSION THAT,YOU TAKE THIS
LETTER VERY SERIOUS.BARRISTER CHIKE OFODILE(JNR.) IS MY NAME.I AM A PRIVATE
ATTORNEY TO THE ESTRANGED GOVERNOR DIPREYE SOLOMON PETER ALAMIEYESEIGHA OF
THE BAYELSA STATE IN THE OIL-RICH NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA WHO IS BEING
INTEROGATED BY THE AUTHORITY IN ABUJA FOR VIOLATING THE CIVIL SERVICE CODE
OF CONDUCT.

ACTUALLY,THE CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU IN THE 5TH SCHEDULE OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF
FOREIGN ACCOUNTS BY PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDER WHILE IN SERVICE.IT IS NO LONGER
NEWS EVEN ON THE CNN,BBC AND THE VOA THAT,MY CLIENT,GOVERNOR ALAMIEYESEIGHA
WAS ARRESTED ON THE 15TH SEPTEMBER,2005 AT THE LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT BY
THE BRITISH AUTHORITY BECAUSE OF THE 1.8 MILLION(ONE MILLION,EIHGHT HUNDRED
THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS) FOUND ON HIM.HE HAD SINCE BEEN HELD AND DETAINED
WITHIN THE CONFINE OF HIS LONDON HOME ON THE ORDER OF A LONDON COURT FOR
MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGE PREFERED AGAINST HIM BUT,HOWEVER,HE LATER ESCAPED
THROUGH FRANCE BACK TO NIGERIA.

SINCE HIS RETURN TO NIGERIA,THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LED PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC
PARTY(PDP) HAVE BEEN DANGLING BRIBE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BAYELSA STATE
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY TO IMPEACH HIM OUT OF OFFICE AS A GOVERNOR AND,THE BRITISH
AUTHORITY AT THE SAME TIME IS REQUESTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEND
GOVERNOR ALAMS BACK TO BRITAIN TO FACE THE MONEY-LAUNDERING CHARGE SO,IT IS
OBVIOUS THAT,MY CLIENT'S FATE IS HANGING ON THE BALANCE.

PRECEDENT TO THE IMPEACHMENT THAT LED TO HIS ARREST ON FRIDAY,9TH
DECEMBER,2005 BY THE GOVERNMENT,HE HAD CONFIDED IN ME THAT,WHILE IN OFFICE
AS A GOVERNOR,HE HAD SUCCESSFULLY UTILISED HIS POSITION WITH THE DIPLOMATIC
IMMUNITY STATUS TO MOVE THE SUM OF U$45,000,000.00(FORTY-FIVE MILLION UNITED
STATES DOLLARS) IN CASH TO A SECURITY COMPANY SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE FOR A
SHORT TERM DEPOSIT PENDING WHEN HE WILL SECURE THE CO-OPERATION OF A
TRUSTWORTHY FOREIGN PARTNER THAT WILL FRONT AS A CONTRACTOR/BENEFICIARY ON
THE BASIS TO WHICH THIS FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERED TO.WE HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE
AN URGENT STEP TO EVACUATE THIS FUND FROM WHERE IT IS PRESENTLY BEING
DEPOSITED TO THE ACCOUNTS THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE FOR FEAR OF BEING TRACED AND
CONFISCATED.

GOVERNOR ALAMS HAS HANDED EVERY DETAILS CONCERNING THIS TRANSACTION TO ME
ON THE BASIS TO WHICH I AM MAKING THIS CONTACT WITH YOU TO SEEK YOUR CONSENT
FOR NOMINATION AS THE BENEFICIARY TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDS IN YOUR ACCOUNTS FOR
MUTUAL BENEFIT AS 30% AWAITS YOU WHILE 5% SET ASIDE TO DEFRAY EXPENSES WE
WILL INCURE FOR THE MONEY TO BE MOVED TO YOU AND THE BALANCE OF 60% WILL BE
RETAINED IN YOUR ACCOUNT FOR US.

IF INTERESTED,PLEASE,FORWARD YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS INCLUDING
YOUR BANKING DETAILS TO REACH ME URGENTLY THROUGH THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:
chikeofodile@sify.com .IT IS IMPORTANT YOU KEEP EVERY DETAILS TO YOURSELF
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS TRANSACTION.

THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE I REPOSE ON YOU CAN NOT BE OVER-EMPHASIZED
THEREFORE,WE WILL NOT WANT YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR PREDICAMENTS TO SIT
ON OUR MONEY SINCE WE INTEND TO INVEST OUR SHARE IN YOUR COUNTRY UNDER YOUR
GUIDANCE AND SUPERVISION.

TREAT THIS AS URGENT AND GET BACK TO ME SOON.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

BARRISTER CHIKE OFODILE(JNR.)

TEL: +234-803-688-5820

E-MAIL:chikeofodile@sify.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam