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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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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:

• 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:
  • "foreign remittance 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.
  
• 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.
  • paul_thomson@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "sikas usman" <sikasusman61@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: sikas_usman@tiscali.it
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 22:44:56 -1000
Subject: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
TINUBU SQUARE, VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA ,
EMAIL,paul_thomson@myway.com

REF: CBN/FG1/2006


Attention: SIR.

please I want to let you know that your name has been appeared in our payment file as the one of beneficiary that will recieve his/her fund and this fund need to wire into your account number immediately . send your banking information in details to enable easy transferred of the money to your account or you can open a fresh account.

I have been appointed by the office of Central Bank to pay all contract/inheritance fund owned by Federal Government Of Nigeria both local and foreign contractors. With this development, your name have been listed with other ten contactors/Inheritance for payments of $11m at this second quarter of the year while outstanding balance will be transfer at the end of the year 2006.

Be informed, that you are expected to provide immediately

1. Name of Bank
2. Bank Account Number where you want us to transfer your fund into
3. Bank swift code or routine number.

As soon as this information is forwarded to me we shall commence process, then transfer your fund through our appointed paying bank by my instruction.

Stop any further contact with any other person, as they are not authorize to see or pay the contract/inheritance fund. reach me on my personal email as soon as you read it . Waiting for your urgent reply.

Mr. RICHARD OFOR
Foreign Remittance Department(Central Bank of Nigeria).

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam