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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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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:
  • "from the desk of" (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)
  • "million united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +2348074057513 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +2348077840361 (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.
  • cbngovernorsoffice2008@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • remittance.ng.org@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 03:00:18 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: cbngovernorsoffice2008@yahoo.com



- CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT,TINUBU SQUARE LAGOS-NIGERIA.From the Desk of:Prof Charles.C. Soludo,Executive Governor (CBN).IMMEDIATE PAYMENT (REF: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/08).Attention: Beneficiary,Following the protest of the International Community, the World Bank, IMF and instruction by the President and Commander in chief of the armed forces (Mallam. Musa Yar'adua) that all outstanding foreign debts especially Next of Kin payment should be released to the beneficiaries forthwith unconditionally.From the records of Foreign Beneficiaries who have not received their payment from the FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, your name and Company was discovered as next on the list of the Beneficiaries who have not received their Inheritance fund. We wish to inform you that your inheritance payment file under reference number CBN/NIG/XX099/008 has been approved for immediate crediting into your nominated bank account or Draft delivery into your door step immediately without any other further delay after the final endorsement of your Fund Release Order Document.I hereby mandate CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA to make this payment of US$10.000, 000.00(Ten Million United state Dollars only) being your contract /inheritance fund into your nominated bank account once you contact the Remittance department.Also, You are strongly advised to Contact The foreign remittance officer of CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA in the name of Mr. James Charles Anderson, Here In NIGERIA on His Direct Open Fax/Tel: +234-8077840361 or E-mail : (remittance.ng.org@hotmail.com).Tell him that you received a message from the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Instructing you to contact him for your contract/inheritance payment. Vehemently, you required to re-confirm to him with following information:(1)Your Full Name and address:(2) Mobile/Fax number#:(3)Your company's name and your position:(5)Your Age and marital status:(6)Your bank information where you will like him to transfer the fund for you.You’re sincerely,PROFESSOR CHARLES CHUKWUMA SOLUDO;GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN):+234-8074057513

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam