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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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.

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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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • charles_cbn_gov123@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: cbn central bank of nigeria <offce13@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <charles_cbn_gov123@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:55:23 +0100
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT



FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIACENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIAINTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENTCORPORATE HEAD QUARTERSTINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS FROM DESK OF:PROF CHARLES SOLUDOEXCUTIVE GOVERNORCENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIAEMAIL:charles_cbn_gov123@yahoo.comATTN: HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR,

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009

From the records of outstanding contractors due forpayment with the Federal Government of Nigeria, yourname and company was discovered as next on the list ofthe outstanding contractors who have not yet receivedtheir payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is beingprocessed and will be released to you as soon as yourespond to this letter. Also note that from my recordin my file your outstanding contract payment isUS$25,500,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Five hundredThousand United States Dollars).

Kindly re-confirm to me the followings:1) Your full name.2) Phone, fax and mobile #.3) Company name, position and address.4) Profession, age and marital status.5) Banking Information/address account number/ swift code.
As soon as this information is received, your paymentwill be made to you in a certified bank draft or wiredto your nominated bank account directly from CentralBank of Nigeria.As soon as youreceive this letter for further discussion or get backto me on this e-mail address:charles_cbn_gov123@yahoo.com

Regards
Prof. Charles Soludo.Executive Governor,Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN]Email:charles_cbn_gov123@yahoo.com
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam