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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
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
• 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.
  • +2348033340173 (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.
  • cbnscfp@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Professor Akpane <professorakpanekpo23@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <cbnscfp@excite.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:56:13 -0700
Subject: PART PAYMENT FROM CBN


FROM THE DESK OF
PROFESSOR AKPAN EKPO
DIRECTOR, FOREIGN OPERATIONS UNIT (CBN)
PHONE, 234-803-334-0173
EMAIL, cbnscfp@excite.com
Dear Contractor,

Your file appears in our desk two days ago Through Federal Ministry of Finance office that you are among people approved to be paid half of their part payment of USD$8 Million dollars. Signed by the Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, On behalf of Mr. President. I need your above information, to reconfirm with the one we have already here in our file to know if you are the Rightful owner to transfer the said sum.Your reply is higherly welcome to this office.

Thanks and God bless.
Regards
Professor Akpan Ekpo
Director, Foreign Operations Unit (CBN)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam