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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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)
  • "outstanding contractors" (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)
  • "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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "charles soludo" <intlremitgovoff13@gmail.com>
Reply-To: intlremit_govoff1@live.com
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 17:36:30 +0100
Subject: ATTN: Honourable Contractor,


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS.
CABLES: CENBANK
TELEGRAM: CENBANK
FROM THE DESK OF: Professor Charles C. Soludo
Execu tive Governor,
Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN),
International Remittance Department,
Corporate Headquarters: # CBN House, Tinubu Square,
Eleke Crescent-Victoria Island, Marina,
Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa.


ATTN: Honourable Contractor,

OUR REF: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/08
CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION WITH C/N:CBN/ NNPC/FGN/0302/08

This is in Acknowledgement of Your Immediate Contract Payment: Contract
Number #AV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/008.
On behalf of the entire Staffs of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the
Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the Authorities, who are
in charge of Foreign Contract Payments, we Apologies, for the delay of your
Contract Payment and all the Inconveniences and Inflict that we might have
indulge you through.

However, we were having some minor problems with our Payment System, which
have demoralized us and caused a lot of predicament to us that are
Inexplicable, which have also held us stranded and Indolent, not having the
Perseverance and Aspiration to devote our 100% Assiduity in Accrediting
Foreign Contract Payments. We apologize once again for all the
inconveniences.

>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 outstanding Contractors who have not yet received their
payments.

I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square hole, and can
be voguish for 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
my File, your outstanding Contract Payment is US$13,000,000.00 (Thirteen
Million United States Dollars).

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 Identity Card/Int'l Passport.
6. Bank details.

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
Central Bank of Nigeria.

You must email me on my direct email addressas soon as you receive this
letter for further discussion.
Yours Faithfully,
Professor Charles C. Soludo
Executive Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam