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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "victor okolie" <vokolie01@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2006 14:11:35 +0000
Subject: IMMEDIATE INHERIATANCE PAYMENT.

FROM OFFICE OFTHE GOVERNOR
Plot 45,IBB WAY.
IKOYI LAGOS.

ATTN:BENEFICIARY,

IMMEDIATE INHERITANCE PAYMENT #: PED/23/REP/A/117/02.
YOUR IMMEDIATE INHERIATANCE PAYMENT.

>From the records of outstanding inheriatance due for
payment with one of the local Banks here in Nigeria,
your name was discovered as next on the list of the
outstanding inheritors 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 our file your outstanding inheriatance payment is
US$10.5 million dollars(Ten million Five Hundred
Thousand united states dollars).As soon as this
information is received, your payment
will be made to you in a certified bank draft or wired
to your bank account directly from Central Bank of
Nigeria or her affiliate Bank in London or America and a copy will be given
to you for you to take to your bank and confirm it.Please re-confirm to me
if this is inline
with what we have in your record and also re-confirm to me the followings:
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr Victor Okolie.
Secretary to the Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Direct line: +234-1-4718155.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam