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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:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into 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 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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "financeministry000 Gazeta.pl" <financeministry800@live.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:42:05 +0100
Subject: ATTN: BENEFICIARY.


*
** FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
LAGOS CONTROL OFFICE:ALAGBON, IKOYE ROAD
P.M.B 80144 VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS*

*ATTN: BENEFICIARY.

YOUR OVER DUE INHERETANCE FUNDS.

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/ INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS
BEEN GAZETTE TO BE RELEASED. VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT)- DIRECT WIRE
TRANSFER TO YOU OR THROUGH OUR CORRESPONDENT BANK NOMINATED BY THE SENATE
COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER.

MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE WITH A LETTER CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE
REPRESENTATIVE, BELOW IS HER INFORMATION FOR YOU TO CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE
IF THIS WOMAN IS TRULY FROM YOU OR NOT SO THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT
BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG PERSON'S ACCOUNT.

NAME MRS. JANET WHITE
BANK NAME CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA USA
ACCOUNT NO: 6503809428

NOTE, THAT YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FURNISH THIS OFFICE WITH YOUR FULL CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR VERIFICATIONS PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALUED OF $6.2
MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT BELOW IS
WHAT IS REQUESTED FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY.:

1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR AGE:
3. YOUR NATIONALITY:
4. YOUR OCCUPATION:
5. PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER:
6. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS:

AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THE ABOVE REQUESTED INFORMATION WE WILL COMMENCE WITH
NECESSARY PROCEDURE AND ALSO INFORM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA TO WIRE YOUR
TRANSFER INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. HOWEVER WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE THE
PAYMENT TO THE SAID PERSON (MRS. JANET WHITE) IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLY WITHIN
NEXT FIVE WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY. WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND
THE DELAY THIS TRANSACTION MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU

BEST REGARDS,
HONORABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
MR. SHAMSUDDEN USMAN ( OFR)
Email: shamsuddenusman@live.com*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam