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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
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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.

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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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into 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)
  • "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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Usman Ahmed" <contactmail2006@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: nnpc_director@live.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:11:58 -0700
Subject: PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY !!!


FROM THE OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (NNPC)
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
NNPC CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009,Swift Code: BPH KPL PK, Our
Ref:NNPC/IRD/NNX/21/08

WE APOLOGISE FOR THE DELAY OF YOUR PAYMENT AND ALL THE
INCONVENIENCES WE MIGHT HAVE PUT YOU THROUGH, WHILE WE WERE HAVING
SOME MINOR PROBLEMS WITH OUR PAYMENT SYSTEM WHICH IN ALL CASE NOT
MEETING UP WITH FOREIGN PAYMENTS, WE APOLOGISE ONCE AGAIN.

FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS DUE FOR PAYMENT WITH
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, YOUR NAME AND COMPANY WAS
DISCOVERED AS NEXT ON THE LIST OF THE (13) OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS
WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENTS DURING THE (8)YEARS TENURE
OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTARTION IN OFFICE PLEASE BEAR WITH US FOR
MAKING THE INITIAL CONTACT THROUGH EMAIL.

MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE A FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER,
CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. HERE IS HER INFORMATIONS
BELOW:

NAME ANNE ROBINSON
BANK NAME: CITIBANK, ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809008.

PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS
WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME IF THIS WOMAN IS
NOT YOUR REP, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND SEND THIS INFORMATIONS
FOR VERIFICATIONS PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALUED ($12.5 MILLION)
US DOLLARS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.

KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS:
1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE
3) COMPANY NAME, POSITION AND ADDRESS.
4) PROFESSION, AGE AND MARITAL STATUS.
5) WORKING I?D/INT'L PASSPORT.

AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE
TO YOU IN A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR WIRED TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK
ACCOUNT DIRECTLY FROM A COMMERICAL BANK HERE IN NIGERIA.

THIS IS THE FIRST QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR. HOWEVER; WE SHALL
PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.ANNE
ROBINSON, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WORKING
DAYS FROM TODAY.
WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCOVINIENCE THE DELAY IN TRANSFERING OF YOUR
FUND MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU.

BEST REGARDS.
DR USMAN AHMED.
NNPC DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam