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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: chika agunna <chikagunna@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 04:52:42 +0100
Subject: Office Of The Governor, Are You Alive.



OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
(RESOLUTION PANEL ON CONTRACT PAYMENT

From: Mr. Chika Agunna

Attn: Sir/Madam,

My name is Mr. Chika Agunna. I'm the personal secretary to the Governor Central Bank of Nigeria, I'm directed to contact you by the Governor to urgently confirm from you if actually you know one Peter Woo who claim to be your business associate/ partner in Nigeria.

The said Mr. Peter Woo is claiming to us that you are dead and he will like to change all the Information’s that you gave to us as our bo5nafide beneficiary. This development is coming now that the Ministry want to offset all your outstanding payments to all our legal foreign beneficiaries’ around the world in your payment file was affected.

As you may know’ the total amount in your favor is a total sum of $15Million Dollars.
We need to confirm from you if it's really true that you are dead and If we did not hear from you it automatically means that you are actually dead and the information passed to us by Mr. Peter Woo is correct.

You are to contact me through my email address as soon as you receive this message so as to know the true position of things with you so that we would not make any mistake in remitting your out-standing payment to a wrong person/account.

Your swift response will help this office of the Governor alot. Do email me with your full names and direct phone number for an easy communication, your age and occupation to this effect.

Finally send you urgent response only to this email address: charlesoludo@babbalu.com

Best Regards.

Mr. Chika AgunnaSecretary for: Governor Central Bank of Nigeria
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam