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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "paymentoffice2" <paymentoffice2@canada.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2006 01:31:19 -0800
Subject: Please confirm

OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
ABUJA.
PHONE;234-805-2124-001
FAX;234-1-759-49

Dear Sir,

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT#: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 you respond to this letter.Also
note that from my record in my file your outstanding
contract payment is US$39.2 million dollars(Thirty Nine
million Two hundred thousand united states dollars).

Please re-confirm to me the followings through email or fax
it to 234-1-759-49

1)Your full name and address.
2)Phone, fax and mobile #.
3)Profession, Age and Marital status.
4)Copy of int'l passport or any other identity.

As soon as this information are received, your payment will
be made to your bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Mr Clement Iwu.
Director Payment & Verifications
Central Bank of Nigeria



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam