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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:
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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:
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Douglas McHenry" <douglas1@douglaszone.net>
Date: Sat, 01 Oct 2005 23:47:30 +0000
Subject: Attention: your urgent response is needed

NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FROM. The Desk OF: Dr Douglas Mac Henry
DIRECTOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION(NNPC)
JOINT VENTURE

Attention:

Compliments.I strongly apologize for this unsolicited mail, but I am
constrained by circumstances surrounding my profession .I
have the mandate of my colleagues in office to solicite for
your assistance for a deal we want to execute The business
involves the remittance of US$20.5M(twenty million and five
hundred thousand United States Dollars) to your bank account
from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The money accrued through deliberate over-invoicing of old
projects executed for the Government by some foreign firms.
I and few officials here have worked out a scheme to benefit
us along with any foreign partner who obliges us the
materials and channel to push out the fund, our idea being
to come over thereafter to share the fund with whoever
assist us. To make things easy and legal, the fund is
reflecting in our records as payable to a foreigner who did
a consultancy service job for the ministry during the turn
around maintenance of one our petroleum refinery.

All necessary and relevant documents will be procured for
the release and transfer of the fund into your nominated
account Please get in touch with me immediately through my email
and attention the undersigned.For your participation in realizing this
transaction 20%
will be for you,70% for me and other officials and 10% for
any expense we may incur (both parties) during processing
for the transfer to your nominated bank account.

I am awaiting your response most urgently and is rest
assured that this transaction is 100% risk free, as there is
no risk involved on both sides.Thank you and God bless.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Douglas Mac Henry

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam