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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "contract review panel" (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.
  • +2348053636226 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Union Bank Of Nigeria <pay.unionbk02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <dr_howardm01@yahoo.it>
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:44:37 +0000
Subject: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT US$25 MILLION



UNION BANK NIGERIA PLCFOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT#2 AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET,VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS-NIGERIAOur Ref: UBN-0XX2/987/2007Email: dr_howardm01@yahoo.itTELEPHONE: +234-8053636226

Dear Sir/Madam,
It is my humble obligation to write you this message in confirmation ofyour fund payment through our honorable bank (UNION BANK). I am Dr. Howard Miller, The Director, foreign operations department Union bank Nigeria Plc.Umar Musa Yar’ Adua, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,has empowered my bank after much consultation and consideration to handle all international payment.

As the newly appointed/approved international paying bank, we have been instructed by the Federal Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the Senate Committee on national Debt and the Board of National Contract Review Panel to release your over due contract funds; contract #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/007, Transaction #: CBC/RXC/234 with Allocation #: UBN/X44/701BZ/FG/NG.

Be informed that we have verified your payment agreement file as directed to us; your name is next on the list of our outstanding contractors to received payment at the second quarter of the year. Be advised that because of too many beneficiaries of inheritance due for payment at this second quarter of the year, you are entitled to receive the sum of Twenty Five Million United States Dollars (US$25,000,000) only, as part payment so as to enable us pay other beneficiaries.

To facilitate with the process of this transaction, please kindlyre-confirm the following information below:

1) Your full name and address2) Phones, Fax and Mobile #.3) Name of your company, position and address4) Profession, age and marital Status.5) Copy of your driver’s license for identification

As soon as we receive the above stated information, your payment will bereleased directly to your nominated bank account without any further delay.

Yours faithfully,
DR. HOWARD MILLERDIRECTOR, FOREIGN OPERATIONS
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam