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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348033011585 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • bar_cjoe@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Charles Dum" <dum0z@ibest.com.br>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:23:48 -0700
Subject: Cooperation needed urgently.


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA
FOREIGN DEBT RECONCILIATION PANEL
Contract Payment, Costing, Investigation & Approval
Tel: 234-80-330-11585.
Email: bar_cjoe@lawyer.com

From: Honourable Charles Dum.
Attention, Sir,


I have gone through your payment file as directed by the Presidency/Holding
Bank, and seen that it is 100% impossible for your money to be released due
to some irregularities detected in your file. During our investigation, we
found out that you have spent so much in trying to realize your payment,
which did not even reflect in your file, but I have an offer, which will at
least help you recover your financial stand loses. This offer is an amount
from Federal Government left over.
It is a total sum of US$55,000,000.00 (Fifty-five Million United States
Dollars), which will be shared between you and I in the ratio of 50% - 50%.
This amount is not from your payment or has any thing to do with your
payment rather it is a left over from the amount used in paying local
contractors and it is directly under my custody. I am offering you this
because I have seen that your payment file has been cancelled due to the
anomalies associated with it and revocation of the Central Bank of
Nigeria's foreign exchange dealThe only things needed for this $55 million
to be transferred to your account under 48 hours are as follow: -

1. A bank account co-ordinates where the money will be transferred into.


2. Your full names and contact address which will be use to Sworn Affidavit
of Ownership of funds at the Federal High Court of Justice.


3. Your identification either international passport or driving license for
formality sake For your information, this is not a contract payment.
Therefore there will be no bureaucracy or misfortune.Please note that if you
are willing to make this deal with me, you should contact BAR CHINEDU JOSEPH
immediately on the above telephone and email furnishing him with your
account co-ordinates.I assure you 100% legal transaction Also be informed
that this transaction will take us just 48 hours to accomplish. If you wish
for me to furnish the account co-ordinates where the money is presently
lodged for verification, I will do so to clear any doubts or fears from your
past experience.


Yours truly,
Honorable Charles Dum,
Foreign Debt Reconciliation Panel
Tel: 234-80-330-11585
Email: Bar_cjoe@lawyer.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam