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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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +23414190746 (Nigeria, landline)
• 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.
  • executive.governor401@o2.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "CENTRAL BANK NIGERIA" <executivemail2@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: executive.governor401@o2.pl
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 05:10:07 -0700
Subject: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS.
CABLES: CENBANK
TELEGRAM: CENBANK
FROM THE DESK OF: Professor Charles C. Soludo
Executive Governor,Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN),
International Remittance Department,
Corporate Headquarters: # CBN House, Tinubu Square,
213 Eleke Crescent-Victoria Island, Marina,
Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa.
P.O.Box 55037 Falomo
Ikoyi Lagos Island Marina.
Tel: 234-1-4190746
EMAIL : executive.governor401@o2.pl

YOUR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT
ATTENTION,

Sorry for the inconveniences that was rendered to you in your line of
Inheritance Payment transaction with some Nigerian Officials some while ago.

I know that this letter will hit you by surprise, but firstly I will like to
introduce myself; I am (Prof. Charles Soludo) the rightful Governor of The
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Executive Chairman of "E.C.D.R".

During the auditing and closing of all financial records of the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) it was discovered from the records of outstanding
Foreign contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria
in
The year 2008 that your name and company is next on the list of those who
Will receive their fund.

On the 1st of October 2006, the President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria
(Chief Olusegun Obasanjo) introduced a Commission named the "E.C.D.R"
(Executive Committee on Debt Recovery) which is duly registered under the
United Nations (U.N.) and the Federal Government of Nigeria. This particular
Commission was initiated to detect fraud/fund delays/interrupted funds
Payments and to also Settle foreign debts/fraud victims/Un-paid
beneficiaries to satisfactory in other to maintain peace in the world at
large,Presently we are being paid by the American government in other to
avert Scam and also to avert beneficiary funds delays here in Nigeria.

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. Also note

That from the record in our file, your outstanding contract payment is
USD $14.7 Million dollars (Fourteen million seven hundred thousand United
States Dollars). Kindly re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you
have in your record and also re-confirm the information below to enable this
office proceed and finalize your fund remittance without further delays.

1) Your full name. ........
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.............
3) Company name, position and address............
4) Profession, age and marital status. ...............
5) Working d/Int'l passport....................

As soon as the above information are received, your payment will be
Made available to you via an international certified bank draft, which will
Be delivered to your doorstep for your confirmation.
PROFESSOR CHARLES C. SOLUDO,
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR,
OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
Tel: 234-1-4190746
EMAIL : executive.governor401@o2.pl

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam