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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.

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:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348024028635 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "CHARLES SOLUDO" <info@centralbankpaymentoffice.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 22:22:57 +0000
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
NO-36 KARIMU KOTUN, GARKI,
ABUJA,NIGERIA.
EMAIL;info@centralbankpaymentoffice.net
PHONE:234-8024028635

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 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 you respond to this letter.Also note that
from my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is us$ 10
million dollars(Ten million United States Dollars).

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you 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.

As soon as this informations are received, your payment will be made to you
in a certified bank draft 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 234-8024028635 as soon as you
receive this letter for a serious discussion with me and also get back to me
on this e-mail info@centralbankpaymentoffice.net

Prof.Charles Soludo
Governor, CBN
Central Bank Of Nigeria.

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam