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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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "00,000.00" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "DR ALI USMAN" <dr_aliusman@unimail.mn>
Reply-To: dr_aliusmann01@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:38:55 +0100
Subject: From: The Office of Dr.Ali Usman


From: The Office of Dr.Ali Usman
Paymaster General of the Federation
Federal Ministry of Finance

ATTENTION:Sir/Madam,

>From the records of outstanding foreign payments due for release with banks
in Nigeria, your name and contact was discovered as next on the list of the
outstanding foreigners' payment which are stil hanging on and who have not
yet received their payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
released to you as soon as you reconfirm your payment details so that we can
authenticate the claim legally. Also note that from our record the Federal
Governemnt of Nigeria has only maped out the sum of US$6,700,000.00 Six
million, seven hundred thousand united states Dollars) to be released to you
for now, after which the remaining part of your claims will be released to
you.

Kindly re-confirm to us the followings:
1) Your full name and mailing address.
2) Telephone, Fax and mobile #.
3) Occupation
4) Age .
5) Your Bank Account and Name of your Bank.

In receipt of the above information, your payment will be approved and paid
to you by wired to your nominated bank account, you are advised to get back
to me immediately for more clarifications.

Yours truly,

Dr Ali Usman,
Paymaster General of the Federation
Federal Ministry of Finance

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam