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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:

• 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)
  • "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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348027666368 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: CHUKS OKOBI <chuksokobi007@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <chuksokobi002@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:11:16 +0100
Subject: CONTRACT PAYMENT



Executive Governor.....FROM THE DESK OF PAY MASTER:CHUKS OKOBITHE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK (CBN) HEADOFFICE: TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS, NIGERIA DIRECT LINE:+234-8027-666368

CONTRACT PAYMENT APPROVAL ON CONTRACT NO: FGN/NNPC/022996/CB/2001 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 apologize once again.From the records of outstandingcontractors 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 is US$10,700,000.00 (Ten Million seven hundred thousand United States dollars). Kindly re-confirm to me the followings: 1) Your full name and address 2) Phone, fax and mobile #. 3) Company name, position and address: 4) Profession, age and marital status. 5) Working d/Int'l passport(if any). As soon as this information is received, your payment will be wired to your nominated bank account directly from our onshore bank of settlement. Thanks for your good understanding, hope to have your response shortly.
Yours Sincerely, PAY MASTER:CHUKS OKOBI Executive Governor Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) DIRECT LINE:+234-8027-666368

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam