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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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • charles_4050@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "charles " <charles_4050@rediffmail.com>
Date: 26 Jan 2007 00:10:01 -0000
Subject:


ATTENTION:&nbsp;IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT &nbsp;From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the federalgovernment of Nigeria your name and company was discovered as next on thelist of the outstanding contractors who have not received their payments.
I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be releasedto you as soon as you respond to this letter.Also note that from my recordin my file your outstanding contract payment is $12.7 million dollars(twelve&nbsp;million seven hundred thousand&nbsp; united states dollars).Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your recordand also re-confirm to me the followings:&nbsp;1) Your full name.2) Phone, fax and mobile #.3) company name,position and address.4)profession, age and marital status.&nbsp;As soon as this informations are received, your payment will be made toyou in a certified bank draft from central bank of Nigeria and a copy willbe given to you for you to take to your bank and confirm it.You must call me on my direct number as soon as you receive this letterfor a serious discussion with me and also get back to me on this e-mail(charles_4050@yahoo.com)&nbsp;Regards,&nbsp;PROF CHARLES SOLUDO.Executive Governor,Central Bank Of Ni!
geria.
SEND ALL FUTURE CORRESPONDENT TO THIS EMAIL charles_4050@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam