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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "courier company" (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)
• 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.
  • francis.ubani@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.FRANCIS UBANI" <francisubani2007@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: francis.ubani@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:21:22 +0000
Subject: THIS IS A VERY CONFIDENTIAL LETTER TO YOU


*MY DEAR*

*THIS IS A VERY CONFIDENTIAL LETTER TO YOU.

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME. I AM
MR UBANI FRANCIS,I WORK WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, PACKAGING AND
COURIER DEPARTMENT.*

*I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON, THROUGH ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE CENTRAL BANK WHO SAID THAT I CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
YOU. I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN OVERSEAS
WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR CBN ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF
THE PACKAGE IS $20,000,000.00 ALL IN $100.00 BILL NOTE,BUT THE COURIER
COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE.*

*ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS TO GIVE ME YOUR MAILING ADDRESS, YOUR
PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.*

*I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WILL HAVE 30%AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME
.MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANYBODY. IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY
YOU ,YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY YOU ARE THROUGH WITH THE MAIL, AND
OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON YOU GET BACK TO ME INCLUDING
SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES TO YOU.NOTE:COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE
STRICTLY THROUGH E-MAIL FOR SECURITY REASONS.*

*IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL AND FEEL THAT YOU WILL ASSIST ME IN THIS
MATTER KINDLY REPLY ME WITH MAIL FOR SECURITY REASONS EMAIL: (**
francis.ubani@yahoo.com* <francis.ubani@yahoo.com>*) .SO THAT WE CAN
DISCUSS ON HOW TO GET THE CONSIGNMENT OF MONEY DELIEVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS
AND YOUR SINCERITY TOWARDS THIS MATTER.*

* *

*YOURS FAITHFULLY, *

*MR.UBANI FRANCIS*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam