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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (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)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • austinazu@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Azu" <barristerazu@msn.com>
Reply-To: barristeraustinazu@myway.com
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 18:25:06 +0000
Subject: PAYMENT INVESTIGATING UNIT.

                              FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

                              CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

                              TINUBU SQUARE LAGOS

                              From the Desk Of:

                              234-8025-841-843

BARRISTER AUSTIN AZU    

EXECITIVE GOVERNOR (CBN)

PRIVATE EMAIL: barristeraustinazu@myway.com

TEL;234-8025-841-843  

ATTENTION:

            

            PAYMENT INVESTIGATING UNIT.

From the records of outstanding payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria, your name was discovered as next on the list of The outstanding beneficiaries 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 payment is US$30.5, (Thirty Million Five 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 informations are received, your payment will be made to you in a certified bank draft from central bank of Nigeria and a copy will be given to you for you to take to your bank and confirm it,And get back to me on this mail: barristeraustinazu@myway.com

TEL;234-8025-841-843

YOURS SINCERELY,

BARRISTER AUSTIN AZU

GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam