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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "ecowas " (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.
  • +2348059777503 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "lawson ecobank" <lawson.ecobank@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: lawsonkolapo009@live.com
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 08:24:19 -0700
Subject: Immediate ATM Payment Notification code of conduct, (ATM-811)


[image: Logo]


*# SilverBird Galleria
113 AHMADU BELLO WAY
VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS
LAGOS, LAGOS 00000 NGA*

*From the desk of:
Mr. Lawson Kolapo*
*International Settlement Dept.
EcoBank Nigeria*
*HOT LINE-234-2-7526861*

*Attention,*
*Immediate ATM Payment Notification*



This is to officially inform you that we have verified your payment file and
found out that why you have not received your fund is because you have not
fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect of your
contract/inheritance payment.

Secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with the none
officials in the bank all your attempt to secure the release of the fund to
you. We wish to advise you that such an illegal act like this have to stop
if you wishes to receive your payment since we have decided to bring a
solution to your problem. Right now we have arranged your payment through
our swift card payment center Asia pacific, that is the latest instruction
from Economic community of west African States (ECOWAS) and Nigerian
Government.

This card center will send you an ATM card which you will use to withdraw
your money in any ATM machine in any part of the world, so if you like to
receive your fund in this way, please let us know by contacting us back and
also send the following information as listed below.

*1. Full name
2. Phone and fax number
3. Address were you want them to send the ATM card to
(p.o box not acceptable)
4. Your age and current occupation
5. Attach copy of your identification*

We have been Mandated by the ECOWAS Parliament to issue out $8,500,000.00 as
part payment for this fiscal year 2007. Also for your information, you have
to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to
avoid any hitches in receiving your payment.

Note that because of impostors, we hereby issued you our code of conduct,
which is (ATM-811) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the
card center by using it as your subject.

Call me now as soon as you get this mail with this phone number *
234-80-5977-7503*

Wait for your expedite response.

Yours in service,


*Mr. Lawson Kolapo*
*International Settlement Dept.
EcoBank Nigeria*
*Mobile: 234-80-5977-7503*
**
*Convenient
Accessible
Reliable*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam