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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.

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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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "lagos" (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.
  
• 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.
  • +23417595284 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: "michael azie" <michael_azie_202@msn.com>
Reply-To: michael_azie_2008@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 23:32:54 +0000
Subject: CATEGORY “A” CLIENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
OFFICE OF THE PAYMASTER GENERAL
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX – LAGOS.
CONFIDENTIAL FAX: 234-1-7595284
CONFIDENTIAL TEL: 234-1-7752229
======================================================
From the Desk of: PROF. MICHAEL AZIE
Paymaster General of the Federation (FMF)
DO NOT READ IF NOT MEANT FOR YOU
======================================================

ATTN: CATEGORY “A” CLIENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

After waiting to hear from you or your Partners who introduced you into this
transaction for a long time now, I decided to make this direct approach
today being the 17th of January, 2006 so as to let you know that I do not
have any thing in mind against you. I do not know if you have asked
yourself why ever since you were introduced into this transaction, you have
been going round in circles without getting to the bottom or end of this and
also why each time the release of these fund is approved, all of a sudden,
the payment will be stopped or one problem or the other will come up. If you
have not asked this question or you do not know, this is an opportunity for
me to tell you.

Some time ago the people that introduced you to the project approached me
and requested me to assist them conclude a money transfer deal they had with
you, they requested me to assist them by putting in your name as the
Original Beneficiary of the funds in question in order to make you appear as
the rightful beneficiary of this funds. I agreed on condition that they will
pay me US$100,000 as soon as your name appears as the beneficiary. I did as
agreed and demanded to be paid but your friends started telling me stories.
They even told me that you promise to send money to me. Do you know that up
till now, I have not received a single cent from them and have not set my
eyes on any of them?

Based on their attitude, As the Paymaster General of the Federation, I
decided to stop the release of the funds through a strong worded petition to
the Office of the President of Nigeria himself because I cannot be denied of
my right in my own Office considering the risk as it might affect my job.
Secondly, I know personally that you are not the rightful beneficiary of the
funds in question, although I am the only person privileged to know this
information and it is a fact. Why I am making this clear to you is that I
can see that you are still making efforts; spending money in order to
conclude this project. Now, I am ready to forget the past, I do not need the
$100,000 any longer from you or your so called partners but a share of 30%
of the total sum. I need your assurance that those your colleagues or any
Government Official will be totally kept out of this transaction, I know
that none of them is aware of this development after trying their best to
conclude it without my consent.

Finally, now re-assure me that you will be willing to offer me the 30% of
the fund that you will assist establish a foreign account in your country
where my share will be lodged. You can contact me immediately on Direct
Phone Number: 234 - 1 – 7752229 Ext: 7172 to enable me furnish you with
detailed information on what you are to do from now on. But if the reverse
is the case, do not bother yourself to reach me.

Respectfully yours,


PROF. MICHAEL AZIE
Paymaster General of the Federation.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam