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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
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "wayne mike" <waynemike_13@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: waynemike_3@myway.com
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 19:19:06 -0900
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

DEAR FRIEND,

REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

FIRST I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION, THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF IT'S BEING VERY CONFIDENTIAL. I AM MR WAYNE MIKE, A DIRECTOR WITH THE BOND BANK OF NIGERIA (B.B.N) PLC LAGOS. I CAME TO KNOW OF YOU IN MY PRIVATE SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE THIS CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION WHICH INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF A HUGE SUM OF MONEY TO A FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNT REQUIRING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE.

THE PROPOSITION AN AMERICAN, LATE ENGINEER CHARLES FREDRICK, AN OIL MERCHANT/CONTRACTOR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, UNTIL HIS DEATH THREE YEARS AGO IN A GHASTLY MOTOR ACCIDENT, BANKED WITH US HERE AT BOND BANK OF NIGERIA PLC, LAGOS, AND HAD A CLOSING BALANCE OF US$15,000,000,000:00 MILLION (FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) WHICH THE BANK NOW QUESTIONABLE EXPECT TO  BE CLAIMED BY CHARLES'S NEXT OF KIN OR ALTERNATIVELY, BE DONATED TO A DISCREDITED TRUST FUND FOR ARMS AND AMMUNINATIONS AT A MILITARY WAR COLLEGE HERE IN NIGERIA. FERVENT EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THE BOND BANK OF NIGERIA PLC, TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THE CHARLES'S FAMILY HAS PROVED ABORTIVE. THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCATE LATE. ENGINEER CHARLES'S NEXT OF KIN (HE HAS NO WIFE OR CHILDREN) THAT THE MANAGEMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OUR CHAIRMAN AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, RETIRED MAJOR-GENERAL KALU IKE KALU, THAT AN ARRANGEMENT BE MADE FOR THE FUNDS TO BE DECLARED UNCLAIMED AND SUBSEQUENTLY, BE DONATED TO THE TRUST FUND FOR ARMS AND AMMUNATION TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE CAUSE OF WAR IN AFRICA AND THE WORLD IN GENERAL.

IN OTHER TO AVERT THIS NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF MY TRUST COLLEAGUES AND I NOW SEEK YOUR PERMISSION TO HAVE YOU STANDING AS NEXT OF KIN TO LATE. ENGINEER CHARLES'S, SO THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED AND PAYED TO YOUR ACCOUNT AS NEXT OF KIN. ALL DOCUMENTS AND PROOFS TO ENABLE YOU GET THE FUNDS WILL BE CAREFULLY WORKED OUT AND MORESO RE-ASSURING YOU OF A 100% RISK FREE INVOLVEMENT. YOU WILL GET A NEGOTIABLE PERCENTAGE OF THIS MONEY FOR ASSISTING US IN THIS DEAL. WE SHALL ALSO MAP OUT A PERCENTAGE OF THIS MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF INCCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE COURSE OF THE TRANSACTION. 30% WILL BE FOR YOU,%10 WILL BE FOR ANY EXPENSENCE THAT WHEN COME ON OUR WAY, THAN %60 WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLUGES. IF THIS PROPOSAL OKAY BY YOU, AND ASSURE US THAT YOU WILL NOT TAKE UNDUE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRUST WE HOPE TO BESTOWE ON YOU AND YOUR COMPANY, KINDLY

GET TO ME IMMEDIATELY VIA, E-MAIL

FURNISH ME WITH YOUR CONFIDENTIAL

Your Full Name: ___________________________

Your Complete Address:______________________________

Name of City of Residence: ____________________

Direct Telephone Number:_____________________

mobile ____________________________

Number:_______________________________________

Fax Number:____________________________________

THAT I CAN USE THESE INFORMATION TO APPLY FOR THE RELEASE AND SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER OF THE FUNDS IN YOUR FAVOUR.IF NOT INTERESTED PLEASE KEEP IT VERY CONFIDENTIAL.THANK YOU IN ANTICIPATION OF YOUR CO-OPERATION.

YOURS SINCERELY,

MR.WAYNE MIKE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam