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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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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • stella_okafor1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Stella Okafor" <stella_okafor2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: stella_okafor1@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2006 01:08:25 +0100
Subject: Urgent Reply

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

 

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME .

I AM , MRS STELLA OKAFOR, I WORK IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,

PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT. I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE CENTRAL BANK WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU.

 

I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN LONDON
WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR CBN ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF
THE PACKAGE IS $10,000,000.00 ALL IN $100.00 BILLS,

 

BUT THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN
THE PACKAGE. ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS THIS GIVE ME YOUR MAILING
ADDRESS YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY,

 

YOU WILL HAVE 30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME. MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE
REVEALED TO ANY BODY. IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU, YOU CAN CALL ME

234--8034354489
OR,FOR SECURITY REASONS OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS
YOU GET BACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES TO YOU.
PLEASE INCASE YOU ARE INTERESTED YOU CAN E-MAIL ME ON MY PRIVATE MAIL:

 

stella_okafor1@yahoo.com

 

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

 

MRS STELLA OKAFOR

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam