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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "inheritance funds" (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)
  • "100% hitch free" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "charles c. 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 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.
  • +2348035010830 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • pro_charles_sol@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: professor charles soludo <professorcharles_06@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: pro_charles_sol@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 02:49:22 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IMMEDIATE FUND RELEASE NOTIFICATION URGENT REPLY NEEDED


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS-NIGERIA
(OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR)
TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
E-mail:(pro_charles_sol@hotmail.com)


ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY,
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT CONTRACT NO: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009

IMMEDIATE FUND RELEASE NOTIFICATION

Compliments of the season. I am prof. Charles C. Soludo, The Executive Director (Governor) Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN). I have been instructed by the Federal Government of Nigeria Revenue Office to leglly transfer your contract payment valued at Ten Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States dollars (10.3M). We apologize for any inconvenience as a result of delay in transaction.

However, during the auditing and closing of all financial records of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it was discovered from the records of outstanding contractors and inheritance funds due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria that your name, email and company was next on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not yet received their payment.

I wish to officially notify you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Be assured that this transaction is 100% hitch free and my promise is that you will receive your fund without any delay.

To facilitate with the process of this transaction, please kindly re-confirm the following information as stated below:

(1) Your full name.
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
(3) company's name, position and address.
(4) profession, age and marital status.
(5) Copy of int'l passport or any scanned identity to prove yourself.

Upon the reconfirmation of the above information, your payment will be released to your doorstep in a certified bank draft or wired to your nominated bank account directly from Central Bank of Nigeria.

You are therefore advised to reply urgently as soon as you receive this letter for further discussion and more clarification. E-mail:(pro_charles_sol@hotmail.com) +234-803-5010-830

Best Regards,

Prof. Charles C. Soludo.
+234-803-5010-830
Executive Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
E-mail:(pro_charles_sol@hotmail.com)


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam