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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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)
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • paul.okoro01@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "drpaulokoro03 drpaulokoro03" <drpaulokoro03_drpaulokoro03@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: drpaulokoro001@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 10:48:51 +0100
Subject: Shipment Arrangement To Your Country


From:Dr Paul Okoro.
Central Bank of Nigeria.
Tinubu-Square,
Lagos Nigeria.
My Private E-mail: paul.okoro01@hotmail.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

Sequel to the secretive arrangement in regards of the shipment of your
contract sum, I wish to inform you that all necessary modalities have been
automatically concluded and have left Nigeria to London via your Country
today by Express Cargo Flight.

Note carefully the content of the crate is "MONEY" but I did not disclose it
to the Courier Services as Money,rather I informed them that the crate
contain Vital"DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS" belonging to my client (that´s you).

In the meantime,I will give you the contact of the Diplomatic Courier
Services for you to contact them and know the actual situation, which i will
be giving to you let with Best Regards,the consignment and also give them
your address where the consignment will be delivered and then get back to me
as soon as possible so that I can give you the shipment document.

Meanwhile, I will be coming over to your country immediately the consignment
arrives in your Country for my 20% share.

Send me your response via: paul.okoro01@hotmail.com So that i can send you
the necessary Documents for you to contact the Diplomatic Courier Services
in London and get back to me.

Congrats and remain blessed.

Best Regards,
Dr Paul Okoro.
Central Bank of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam