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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.

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)
  • "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.
  • +2348034971374 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MARY OKAFOR" <mary_okafor35@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mary_okafor1@o2.pl
Date: Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:19:02 -0800
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS TINUBU SQUARE,
MARINA LAGOS, NIGERIA.
TEL: 234-803- 497-1374.


Attn:

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 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$65.7million dollars (sixty five 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, age and marital status.
(5) Copy of int'l passport.

As soon as this information's are 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 can reach the governor of central bank on the above phone number for a
serious discussion.

Regards,

Mrs. Mary Okafor.
Secretary Central Bank of Nigeria.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam