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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
  (+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:

• 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)
  • "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (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: charles@doncharles.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:34:28 +0100 (CET)
Subject: URGENT REPLY



CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS-NIGERIA
FROM THE DESK OF PROFESSOR.CHARLES.C.SOLUDO
THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK (CBN)
HEAD OFFICE ABUJA NIGERIA

GARIKI PHASE 2.
F.C.T ABUJA.
TEL: 234-01-723-8310.

Attn: HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR,

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009
We apologies, for the delay of your payment and all the inconveniences and
inflict that we might have indulge you through.

However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which is inexplicable, and have held us stranded and indolent, not having the aspiration to devote our 100% assiduity in accrediting foreign contract
payments. We apologies once again.

>From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the federal
government of Nigeria, your name and company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not yet received their payments. I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square whole and can be voguish for that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.

Also note that from my record in my file your outstanding contract payment
with us is $13.85M, (Thirteen Million Eight Hundred And Fifty Thousand United
States Dollars only)

Kindly re-confirm to me the followings:

(1) Your full name.
(2) Your driving license.
(3) Phone, fax and mobile #.
(4) company's name,position and address.
(5) profession, age and marital status.

As soon as this informations are 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 confirm it.


Regards,

PROFESSOR CHARLES C. SOLUDO,
GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN),

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam