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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.

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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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (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.
  • +2348053677105 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Prof. Charles Soludo." <cbn_gov_hq00@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: cbn_gov_hq00@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 16:40:49 +0000
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGE MAIL.....URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED...

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS
TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS
TEL: +234-8053677105
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/04
ATTN: VALUABLE CONTRACTTOR ,

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 attached as the next of kin to one of our late contractor.

your payment has been discovered as next on the list of payment.

So 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 be advised that because
of too many contractors that I have to pay at this
final quarter of the year, you will only receive the
sum of us$10, 000,000, ten Million United States
Dollars. So that I will be able to pay other
contractors, but my promise is that I will make sure
that you receive your balance later.

Kindly re-confirm to me the followings:
1. Your full name.
2. Phone, fax and mobile #.
3. Company name, and address.
4. Profession, age and marital status.

As soon as this information is received, your payment
will be made to you in a certified bank draft or wired
to your nominated bank account directly from Central
Bank of Nigeria. Call me as soon as you receive this letter for further discussion.

Regards,
Prof. Charles Soludo.
Executive Governor,
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Tel: +234-8053677105

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam