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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
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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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  • +2341290016 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: "bellobe2" <bellobe2@terra.com.mx>
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006 11:46:26 -0600
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT


FROM THE DESK OF MR.BELLO IDEWU,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ CHIEF ACCOUNTANT,
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,
TINUBU SQUARE,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Tel: 234-1-290016,
Fax: 234-1-759012

ATTENTION : THE HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF
NIGERIA. IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/2001.
Dear Beneficiary,
>From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the
Federal government of Nigeria, your name was discovered as next on the
list 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 the record in my
file your outstanding contract payment is us $65.7 million
dollars(Sixty-five million seven hundred
thousand united states dollars) only.

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your
record and also re-confirm to me the followings :
1) Your full name and address
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company's name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
As soon as this information is 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 cash it.You must
call me on my direct number as soon as you receive this letter for a
serious discussion.
Best Regards,
Yours in-Service
Mr.Bello Idewu.
CBN, Lagos-Nigeria.
Bello idewu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam