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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "is highly confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "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 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.
  • kolabalogun231@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ENGINEER KOLA BALOGUN" <kolabalogun231@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2005 19:15:58 -0800
Subject:

FROM:ENGINEER KOLA BALOGUN
PHONE:2348028375659,
EMAIL:kolabalogun231@yahoo.com

DEAR FRIEND,

I GUESS THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE I HAD NO PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOU,WE GOT YOUR CONTACT IN THE COURSE OF OUR SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE PERSON OR COMPANY TO ASSIST US IN THE TRANSFER OF $21,300,000.00 (TWENTY ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) ABROAD.BUT IT IS WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I CHOSE TO MAKE THIS URGENT AND IMPORTANT BUSINESS PROPOSAL KNOWN TO YOU. I AM CHAIRMAN OF CONTRACT PROCUREMENTS AND AWARDING COMMISSION WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC).I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BY MY COLLEAGUES TO SEEK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS
TRANSFER IF YOU CAN ACCEPT THIS SUM OF $21,300,000.00 INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

THIS MONEY AROSE FROM A DELIBERATE OVER INVOICED CONTRACT
AWARDED TO FOREIGN CONTRACTORS IN 2003.WE HAVE BEEN SAFE
GUARDING THIS MONEY SINCE THEN, AWAITNG AN APPROPRIATE TIME WHEN THE MONEY CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SAFE KEEPING, PENDING ON OUR ARRIVAL FOR THE SHARING AND UTILIZATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT.NOW THE NEW CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE ORDERED THAT ALL DEBTS OWED FOREIGN CONTRACTORS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BE PAID IMMEDIATELY,ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS ORDER,WE WISH TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO PRESENT YOU AS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS BEING OWED BY THE GOVERNMENT SO THAT THE MONEY WILL BE PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT ON OUR BEHALF.

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED
THUS,75% WILL BE FOR US( I AND MY COLLEAGUES),20% WILL BE FOR YOU FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE WHILE THE REMAINING 5% HAS BEEN MAPPED OUT FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION. AS ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND HITCH-FREE TRANSACTION.

NOTE THAT THIS MONEY IS STILL IN SUSPENSE ACCOUNT OF MY
CORPORATION (NNPC) WITH CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO RISKS INVOLVED ON BOTH PARTIES. WE HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 14 WORKING DAYS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO THIS PROPOSAL BY REACH ME THROUGH THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER SIGNIFYING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS BUSINESS.THIS TRANSACTION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND RGENT.FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE CONVEYED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR
ACCEPTANCE RESPONSE.

BEST REGARDS.
ENGINEER KOLA BALOGUN.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam