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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "charles soludo" (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)
• 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.
  • paymentinfo_cbn005@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: paymentinfo center <centralbank@paymentinfo.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:41:16 +0100 (CET)
Subject: PAYMENT INFORMATION



FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS-NIGERIA

>From the Desk Of:
Prof. Charles Soludo
Governor,Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)



Attn:SIR/MADAM,


IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT CONTRACT NO:
NNPC/FGN/LAG/PED/401/03

>From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria, your name/company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding contractors 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 my file your outstanding contract payment is US$15.5M, (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only) Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me the followings.

(1) Full name and Address
(2) phone, fax and mobile phone numbers
(3) company's name,position and address
(4) profession, age and marital status
(5) copy of international passport or Driver's License for Identification.

As soon as this information are received, your payment will be made to you in a certified bank draft from Central Bank of Nigeria or through telegraphic transfer.
PLEASE REPLY TO THE FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPT. IN LONDON WITH THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS; paymentinfo_cbn005@yahoo.co.uk


Yours Sincerely,



Prof. Charles Soludo
Governor, Central bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam