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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:
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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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  
• 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.
  • +23414369482 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: "CHARLES SOLUDO" <contract_cbn1@msn.com>
Reply-To: prof_charlessoludo234nig@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 09:41:28 +0000
Subject: YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE

        FEDERAL  REPUBLIC  OF  NIGERIA 

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

  INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT

     CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS TINUBU SQUARE,

MARINA LAGOS NIGERIA.

TEL: 234-1-4369482
Our Ref : CBN/IRD/CBX/021/04

 

ATTENTION: HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR. 
         
                                    IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT / NO:
                                                              MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009

We Apologies, for the delay of your payment and all the Inconveniences and Inflict that we might have indulge you through. However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which is Inexplicable, and have held us stranded and Indolent, not having the Aspiration to devote our 100% Assiduity in accrediting foreign contract payments. We Apologies once again.

 

From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the federal Government of Nigeria, your name and company was discovered as next on 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 payment is US$10.7M,(Ten Million,Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only) Please re-confirm to me if this is Online with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me the followings

 

(1) Your full name.
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
(3) company's name,position and address.
(4)profession, age and marital status.
(5) Copy of int'l passport or any scanned identity to prove yourself.

 

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you in a certified bank draft or wired to your nominated bank account directly from central bank of Nigeria.

As soon as you receive this letter for further discussion, get back to me.

 

YOURS SINCERELY,

PROFESSOR CHARLES C. SOLUDO,
GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam