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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Fraud email example:

From: "PROF ,CHARLES SOLUDO" <charlessoludoh2007@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: soludo_7@myway.com
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 09:23:22 -0800
Subject: ATTN: HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR.


CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
LAGOS-NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
YOUR PAYMENT ;Ref;NUMBERS 000999/CBN/7535/2003.
URGENT.
Direct line 234-80-36969829
ATTN: HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR.
DID YOU AUTHORISED ANYBODY WHO PRESENTED DOCUMENT OF CLAIM, REPORTED TO HAVE SIGNED BY YOU FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR PART-PAYMENT OF $16.7MILLION USD ONLY.
RECONFIRM BACK TO ME TO AVOID ANY IRREGULARITIES AS YOUR PAYMENT IS NOW READY TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU BY DRAFT (Based on the instructions received this morning from the attorney general of the federation).
BASED ON THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO RESPOND TO ANY MAIL OR FAX CONCERNING YOUR FUND FROM ANY BODY WHO CLAIM TO BE OR YOUR AGENT AS YOUR DRAFT IS NOW READY TO BE DELIVERED IMMEDAITELY BY THE AUTHORITY OF THIS OFFICE.
Kindly 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.
YOU ARE WARNED AND ADVISED TO FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTIONS AS REGARDS TO YOUR FUND.
THE ABOVE IS YOUR PAYMENT (REF.# .(000999/CBN/7535/2003.) ANY MAIL OR FAXES WITH OUT YOUR PAYMENT NUMBERS ,YOU SHOULD DISREGARDS IT.
Your faithfully.
PROF ,CHARLES SOLUDO
(CBN) GOVERNOR.(FGN)
Direct line 234-80-36969829



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