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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • +2348020331400 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: abbey edward <abbeyatlaw@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 08:25:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attn: Honourable Contractor


OUR REF: FMF/CBN/IRD/CBX/021/07

Attn: Honourable Contractor

SHIPMENT STATUS OF YOUR TOTAL APPROVED CONTRACT VIDE CONTRACT #: NNPC/FGN/XXOMIN/0098

Dear Sir,

This is to inform you that the new Nigerian President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'adua based on the agreement reached with both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to pay all our foreign contractors through Diplomatic Immunity because of pressure from the International community. The new president has decided to solve the issue of fraud associated with contract payments and the issue of illegal sells of crude oil. We have this day of May, 2008 received payment credit instruction from the Federal Government of Nigeria to credit your account with your full contract funds from the Nigerian reserve account with our bank. This is to notify you that your funds has been programmed for immediate release into your nominated account but we can not transfer this funds direct to your nominated bank account, because we are having a little problem with International Monetary Fund (IMF) so our method of payment is by Diplomatic Cash Payment Service.

Be informed that your total approved funds is US$18.5million (EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) which has been systematically arranged and concealed in 2 security proof boxes, and the boxes will be sealed with syntheticnylon seal and padded with machine for security reasons. Upon the the completion of the packing of your funds, original copies of your contractual documents, the Airway Shipment Receipt & the Diplomatic Immunity Cash Claim Bond Certificate will be forwarded to your residential address via courier service for your perusal and record purpose because it must be in your possession before the arrival of the Diplomats. Be aware that the Federal Government of Nigeria has paid in advance, the total Air-freight for the shipment of all accredited/scheduled beneficiaries funds to their respectively residential addresses. Note, the Diplomats shall not encouter any hurdle by the Nigerian/Foreign Customs whatsoever. Also be informed that the
shipment route is scheduled through Lagos - Paris, via France Airline. The flight scheduled shall be made known to you immediately you receive the original copies of your contractual documents, the Airway Shipment Receipt & the Diplomatic Immunity Cash Claim Bond Certificate. This empowering document and Airway Bill original copy has to be with you before the arrival of the diplomats to proof your authenticity as the real beneficiary/consignee. Note that these vital documents has to be despatched to you separately from the consignment fund, and will not come through the diplomats as they do not really know the actual contents of your consignment.

However, kindly make urgent arrangement to receive your original copies of the above mentioned empowering shipment documents, to enable us avail you with the final flight scheduled/arrival date of the diplomats in your local aiport. Your appropriate description of your residential address via your local airport is highly required for easy location of your door step address.

Note that we have limited time to accomplish this assignment, the approval of the said fund is under the Nigeria financial section 105, of International contract and Beneficial payment regulation, your inability to appear here in person for your Contractual Original Documents within the payment approval period. This have warrant the dispatch of the said documents through diplomatic courier firm to your door post before the arrival of the Diplomats. As a matter of urgency, I want you to send your direct mobile telephone number and your home address to me immediately so that it will be attached to the security proof boxes to enable the Diplomats calls you upon their arrival in your local airport as arranged.

Be advice to stop all further communication with Banks and all Ministries in and outside Nigeria, ignore and disregard all telephone, E-mail or fax messages from any individual, Banks, Ministries or whosoever may reach you in respect of this payment approval, this is to avoid jeopardizing and impersonating your fund transfer approval. This message serves as final notification to all concerned beneficiaries who may find this information important and urgent as regards final resolution to there delayed fund approval by the Government of Nigeria.

Call my direct line :+2348020331400, for further shipment update. NOTE that you have 7 working days from date of this message, to meet up with this advice as failure may result to outright payment cancellation.

We anticipated your earliest cooperation in this regards.

Best regards,

DRABBEY EDWARD

DIRECTOR TELEX/K.T.T DEPT,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam