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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "executive governor" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Charles Soludo" <cbn_contractpaymetdept@msn.com>
Reply-To: cbn_contractpaymetdept@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 12:39:32 +0000
Subject: CONTRACT PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

OUR REFF: NNPC/PED/01/09

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

Attn: Honorable Contractor,

>From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the
federalgovernment
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 you respond to this letter. Also note that from
my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is US$18.7 million
dollars (eighteen million seven hundred Thousand 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
5) Copy of your international passport or Driver's lisence.

As soon as this information is 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 get back to me immediately.

Regards,
PROF CHARLES SOLUDO.
Executive Governor, Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam