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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "levy " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • ",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)
  • "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 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.
  • +2348030992543 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: apostle harford <apostlehord@msn.com>
Reply-To: <apharford@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:26:17 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: Apostle (Dr.) Hayford



FROM THE DESK OF: Apostle (Dr.) Hayford I. Alile, OFR, NPOM OCEANIC BANK PLCLagos, Nigeria[+234-8030-992543]
ATTENTION:Honourable Contractor,
I have been requested by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company to contact you for assistance in resolving a matter. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company has recently concluded a large number of contracts for oil exploration in the sub-Sahara region. The contracts have immediately produced moneys equalling US$40,000,000. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company isdesirous of oil exploration in other parts of the world, however, because of certain regulations of the Nigerian Government, it is unable to move these funds to another region.
Your assistance is requested as a non-Nigerian citizen to assist theNigerian National Petroleum Company, and also the Central Bank of Nigeria, inmoving these funds out of Nigeria. If the funds can be transferred to your name,in your United States account, then you can forward the funds as directed by theNigerian National Petroleum Company. In exchange for your accomodatingservices, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company would agree to allow you toretain 20%, or US$8 million of this amount.
However, to be a legitimate transferee of these moneys according toNigerian law, you must presently be a depositor of at least US$100,000 in aNigerian bank which is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
If it will be possible for you to assist us, we would be most grateful.We suggest that you meet with us in person in Lagos, and that during your visitI introduce you to the representatives of the Nigerian National PetroleumCompany, as well as with certain officials of the OCEANIC BANK PLC of Nigeria.
Please call me at your earliest convenience at [+234-8030-992543] Timeis of the essence in this matter; very quickly the Nigerian Government willrealize that the OCEANIC Bank is maintaining this amount on deposit, and attemptto levy certain depository taxes on it.
Yours truly, etc.Apostle Hayford Alile

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam