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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  • +2348055120408 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • williams_c_madu@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. WILLIAMS C. MADU" <williams_c_madu@zipmail.com.br> (may be fake)
Reply-To: williams_c_madu@sify.com
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2006 15:15:27 +0200
Subject: ATTN: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT

ATTN: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT

I know this message will come to you as a surprise being aware that we have not
met or had any business transactions in the past that will warrant my writing you.

My name is Mr. Williams C. Madu, I am the Managing Director of Royal Investment
and Finance Company Limited. On receiving this mail, I will like you to treat it as
urgent and very confidential.You may not be aware that in the recent past, the Federal
Government of Nigeria through the Central Bank of Nigeria ordered all the operating
banks in Nigeria to re-capitalise their shareholding base to the tune of Twenty Five Billion
Naira (N25 billion) or have their licences withdrawn from them. This ultimatum elapsed
on the 31st day of December 2005. After the deadline, out of the 89 banks in Nigeria,
it was only 25 of them that were able to make it either through merger, acquisitoin or
public share offers.

The reason for my writing you is that the CEO/Major shareholder of one of the failed banks
whose name I have decided to keep secret in collaboration with the director in charge of
re-capitalisaiton in the Central Bank of Nigeria whom I am representing have decided to
transfer into a foreign account the sum of US$50 million dollars for their personal use from
the account of the failed bank.

The basic infomation you must know in this transaction is that:

1. We intend to present you or your company as a front to prepare the necessary approvals
needed for the successful transfer of the funds.

2. The necessary financial obligations that will affect the transaction will be taken care of here
with the bank, the only thing you will be required to do, is to receive the funds which we shall
inform you of the procedure once you have indicated your willingness to be part of this transaction.

If you are willing to be part of this transaction, kindly contact me through my private
telephone/email: +234 805 512 0408, or email for more details.

Yours sincerely,

Williams C. Madu
The Managing Director
Royal Investment and Finance Company Limited
23 Eric Moore Close,Victoria Island
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: +234-805 512 0408.
Email: williams_c_madu@sify.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam