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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:
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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)
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "remmittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "international remittance department" (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)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • josephansah00@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: joseph ansah <josephansa5121@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2007 18:46:49 +0100
Subject: Commpliment Of The Day,



From the Desk Of:Mr Joseph Ansah. 30TH./ JUNE./ 2007. IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT APPROVAL ON CONTRACT NUMBER:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009. From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria,I as the Director of the International Remmittance Department personally found out that Late Engineer Williams Robert was among the list of foreign contractors that executed a contract with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) and his contract payment of fifteen million, four hundred thousand united states dollars has been approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria,which is to be transfer to any nominated bank account of his choice,but along the line I personally have discovered that he had an car accident and died,so this approved payment of fifteen million, four hundred thousand united states dollars in his name was lingering as unclaimed fund at this moment,so due to my position in the Central Bank of Nigeria,we are not allowed to open an offshore bank account,so there is no way I will claim this fund by myself,but if you can be sincerely with me and have a good co-operation with me,I will present you to the bank as the next of kin to Late Engineer Williams Robert,and I will consult an accredited attorney with the Central Bank of Nigeria,who will process the necessary documents in your name to back you up as the next of kin to Late Engineer Williams Robert and to this fund. However,if you are interested to this mutual transaction,and you will not betray me at the end,I will offer you the 40% of this fund,while I will establish an investment in your country with my own share,which is remain balance of %60 of the fund. So,kindly fill the below information and return to me,if you will be capable to transact this mutual business transaction with me sincerely.
Please reply through my private email address:

Josephansah00@myway.com,for the confidentiality of this transaction. 1) Your full name:_ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ __ ____

2) Phone, fax and mobile :_ _ _ _ _ __ __ __

3) Company name, position and address:_ _ _ _ _ __ __

4) Occupation:_ __ ___ __ Contact Add:_ __ ___ __ _

5) Profession:_ _ _ _ _ __ __ __

6) AGE: _ __ __ ___ SEX:_ __ ___ __ YOURS SINCERELY,

From the Desk Of:Mr Joseph Ansah.

DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT(CBN).

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam