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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "huge sum of money" (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 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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 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.
  • samuelnnagboro@rocketmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: samuelnnagboro@rocketmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:14:43 -0000
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT



--
>From Desk of the President
African Development Bank
No 12 Tinubu Square Lagos-Nigeria


Dear Beneficiary,

I am Mr. Donald Kaberuka, the President, African Development Bank, This is to
bring to your notice that my office has taking over all the money Transaction
originated from any part of African and Europe countries as Contract payment,
Fund Inheritance And Lottery Winning due to Unauthorized/incapability of
financial Institutions/security companies in releasing such huge sum of money
due to Fraud, terrorist and money laundry activities going on worldwide.

The World Bank Group has Mandated the African Development bank via my office
to release funds to beneficiaries through certified ATM card, Hence Your Name
appears as one of the fund beneficiaries whom their fund was Successfully
cleared recently from Terrorist and Money laundry and your money will be
released to you through ATM card that will be cash able from any ATM center in
your country been the only way you would receive your money to avoid paying
excess charges, As regard to this arrangement, you are advised to contact the
Director telex and Screening Foreign Operations and Remittance Department.
with the below information:


NAME: REV SAMUEL NNAGBORO
EMAIL: samuelnnagboro@rocketmail.com


You are therefore advised to forward your direct telephone numbers your
complete name and your mailing address to Rev Samuel Nnagboro for immediate
release of your money.

Be aware that the amount due for you is Ten Million United States Dollars Only
(US$10,000,000.00).

Be also informed that the Fund Approvals and authorization document Including
Anti-terrorist Clearance Certificate was issued in your name and has been
handed over to Rev Samuel Nnagboro to release to you through any fast courier
company, therefore be aware that your fund has obtained all her clearance to
be released to you.

Thanks for Your Cooperation.

Regards

Mr. Donald Kaberuka (President)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam