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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)
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "remmittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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: "Mr. Gandi Milford" <gan_milford_18000@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: gandimilford200@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 07 Nov 2006 18:42:51 +0100
Subject: FROM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN), YOUR URGENT NEEDED!

                                                                

               

                                                    CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
                                    TINUBU SQUARE, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS-NIGERIA
                                                                     

 

ATTENTION: Sir/Madam,

From the records of outstanding foreign payments due for release with
banks in Nigeria, your name and contact was discovered as next, on the
list of the outstanding foreigners' payment which are still hanging on,
and who have not yet received their payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
released to you as soon as you reconfirm your payment details so that
we can authenticate the claim legally.

Also note that, from our record the Federal Governemnt of Nigeria has only maped out the sum of US$6.7M (Six million, Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to be released to you for now, after which the remaining part of your claims will be released to you.

Kindly re-confirm to us the followings:

(1) Your full name and mailing address:
(2) Telephone:

(3) Fax number:

(4) mobile number#:
(5) Occupation:
(6) Age:
(7) Any Bank account of your choice:

 

In receipt of the above information, your payment will be approved and
paid to you by wiretransfer to your nominated bank account, you are advised to
get back to me immediately for more clarifications.

Yours truly,

MR. GANDI MILFORD,
REMMITTANCE DEPARTMENT

(CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA).

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam