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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:
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "www.cenbank.org" (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.
  
• 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.
  • centrralbank@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Douglas Iwu" <douglasiwu88@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 05:35:57 +0000
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT

ATTN: Dear Contractor

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.

>From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Federal
Government of Nigeria, your name and company was discovered as next on the
list of the outstanding contractors who have not received their payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
released to you as soon as your respond to this letter. Also note that from
my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is US$32.7 million
dollars (Thirty-two million seven hundred thousand united states dollars).

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what we have in your record
and also re-confirm to me the followings:

1) Your full name.

2) Phone, fax and mobile #.

3) Company name, position and address.

4) Profession, age and marital status.

5) Scanned copy of int'l passport.

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you in
a certified bank draft or wired to your bank account directly from Central
Bank of Nigeria and a copy will be given to you for you to take to your bank
and confirm it.

You must call me on my direct number as soon as you receive this letter for
a serious discussion with me and also get back to me in this e-mail
box:centrralbank@yahoo.com
Regards,

Prof. Charles Soludu.
Executive Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Website:www.cenbank.org

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam