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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "% will be for you" (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)
  • "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Ewuh Hillary" <hillaryewuh1@i12.com>
Reply-To: hillaryewuh2@i12.com
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 14:24:22 +0200
Subject: Attn: The Managing Director/CEO


DR. HILLARY EWUH
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT,(NNPC)
LAGOS- NIGERIA



ATTN: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO,


DEAR SIR/MADAM ,

IT IS WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I MAKE THIS URGENT AND IMPORTANT
BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU. I AM SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL
PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) HERE IN LAGOS. I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BY MY
COLLEAGUES TO SEEK A FOREIGN PARTNER IN THE TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF USD12.5M
(TWELVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) ONLY. THIS
MONEY AROSE FROM A DELIBERATE OVER - INVOICING OF A PARTICULAR CONTRACT
AWARDED CORPORATION IN 2006.

WE HAVE BEEN SAFEGUARDING THIS MONEY SINCE THEN, AWAITNG AN APPROPRIATE TIME
WHEN THE MONEY CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SAFE KEEPING, PENDING OUR ARRIVAL
FOR THE SHARING AND UTILIZATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT. NOW THE NEW
CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE ORDERED THAT ALL DEBTS OWED FOREIGN CONTRACTORS BY
THE GOVERNMENT BE PAID IMMEDIATELY, ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS ORDER, WE WISH
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO PRESENT YOU OR YOUR COMPANY AS ONE OF THE
CONTRACTORS BEING OWED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED THUS, 70% WILL BE
FOR US (I AND MY COLLEAGUES),25% WILL BE FOR YOU FOR COLLABORATING AND
PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE WHILE THE REMAINING 5% HAS BEEN MAPPED
OUT FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED IN THE COURSE OF THIS
TRANSACTION.

NOTE, THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR COMPANY'S BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS
TRANSACTION AS ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND
HITCH- FREE TRANSACTION. NOTE THAT THIS MONEY IS STILL IN SUSPENSE ACCOUNT
OF MY CORPORATION (NNPC) WITH CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.YOU ARE REQUIRED TO
EMAIL THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.

(1) YOUR COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS
(2) YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
(3) YOUR BANK NAME AND ADDRESS , PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
(4) YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER

WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO RISKS INVOLVED ON BOTH
PARTIES. WE HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 14
WORKING DAYS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO THIS PROPOSAL. PLEASE
REACH ME THROUGH THE EMAIL SIGNIFYING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS BUSINESS THIS
INFORMATION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT.FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE
CONVEYED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR ACCEPTANCE RESPONSE.

BEST REGARDS.

DR.HILLARY EWUH

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam