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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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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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +2348034262941 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:12:25 +0000
Subject: Confidential


From:Dr DAVID CAMALLU CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria.
Tinubu-Square,
Lagos Nigeria.
DATE: 2/10/ 2008.

Dear Sir, 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) Furthermore, the weight of
the consignment is 220kg but I manage to pay 120kg, which cost US$25,600.00.
On no account should you disclose the content of the crate with the
Diplomatic Courier Services for fear of betrayal. So do not allow them to
know that the content is money 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 letter 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 50% share.
Please, Advise me as soon as possible of your true position and also assure
me that my share will be safe with you. Or give me a call immediately Tel:
+234-8034262941, and endeavor to send me the required information
immediately so that we can proceed. Company
name:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Position:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FullName:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Age:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

City:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

State----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Country--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phone-----------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fax------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Regards, From:Dr David Camallu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam