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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "adamu atiku" <adamuatiku@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:01:37 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION


*MY FRIEND,*

*THIS FUND IS A PRODUCT OF OVER INVOICED CONTRACT AWARDED IN 2007 BY INEC TO
A FOREIGN COMPANY FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS AMOUNTING TO
$50MILLION THAT WHERE USED FOR CONDUCTING JUST CONCLUDED 2008 ELECTIONS.THE
CONTRACT HAS LONG BEEN EXECUTED AND PAYMENT OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT
MADE TO THE FOREIGN CONTRACTOR; THEREBY LEAVING THE BALANCE OF US$20MILLION
IN A DORMANT ACCOUNT WHICH MY COLLEAGUE AND I NOW WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF
NIGERIA INTO A RELIABLE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR OUR PERSONAL USE OR MOVE OUT
THROUGH DIPLOMATIC MEANS.*


*AS CIVIL SERVANTS WE DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY FOREIGN ACCOUNT MACHINERY TO
SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION THEREFORE IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO
SOURCE FOR A FOREIGN PERSON WITH THE CAPABILITY TO ACT AS THE ORIGINAL
BENEFICIARY OF THE CONTRACT.*

*MY DEAR FRIEND, IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ENDORSED THE
RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE SENATE THAT ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTORS OWED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA BE PAID, WE WILL SEIZE THIS GOOD OPPORTUNITY
TO SUPPORT YOU AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES TO BE PAID.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
IN THIS PROPOSAL AGAIN KINDLY GET BACK TO ME BY SENDING A LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE ALONG WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAXNUMBERS.MEANWHILE, MY
COLLEAGUE AND I HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THE MONEY IN THEFOLLOWING RATIO: 70%
FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND I,THEN 30% FOR *

*YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER.FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE
DISCUSSED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE.THIS TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL AND RISK FREE.NOTE ALSO THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS
IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION AND THIS TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE
CONCLUDED WITHIN 15 WORKING DAYS SINCE ALL LOCAL CONTACTS AND ARRANGEMENTS
HAVE BEEN PROPERLY PERFECTED FOR A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS
TRANSACTION.*

*Send reply to my private email:*

*SALUTATIONS*

*ADAMU ATIKU*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam