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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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:
  • "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "abuja" (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.
  • +2348052722898 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • africandevelopmentbank@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "afdbank"<adbank_donald@indiatimes.com>
Reply-To: <africandevelopmentbank@indiatimes.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 02:04:59 +0100
Subject: Official Site: http://www.afdb.org Resident Representative

African Development Bank
Nigeria Country Office (NGFO)
Plot 813, Lake Chad Crescent District, Abuja, Nigeria
Official Site: http://www.afdb.org
TEL: +234-805-2722898


Sir.

I Am Mr. Herve Assah, Resident Representative, African Development Bank. This Is To Bring To Your Notice That My Office Has Taking Over All The Money Transaction Originated From Any were in the world/Part Of African And Europe Countries As Contract Payment, Fund Inheritance Or Lottery Winning Due To Unauthorized/Incapability Of Financial Institutions/Security Companies In Releasing Such Huge Sum Of Money Due To Fraud, Terrorist And Money Laundry Activities Going On World Wide.

The World Bank Group Has Mandated the African Development Bank via My Office to Release Funds to Beneficiaries through Our corresponding bank(citibank london) by wire transfer to your nominated bank account. Hence Your Name Appears As One Of The Fund Beneficiaries Whom Their Fund Was Successfully Cleared Recently From Terrorist And Money Laundry And Your payment Will Be Released To You as soon as possible To Avoid Paying Excess Charges.

As Regard To This Arrangement, You Are Advised To Contact our office now Tel: +234-805-2722898 , Email: africandevelopmentbank@indiatimes.com and also To Forward Your Direct Tel/fax Numbers, and Your Complete information For Immediate Release Of Your Money, Most Importantly Be Aware That your full payment Was Allocated To You, Be Also Informed That The Fund Approvals And Authorization Document Including Anti-terrorist Clearance Certificate Was Issued In Your Name And Has Been Handed Over to our bank To Release To You Through Any Faster Courier Company, Therefore Be Aware That Your Fund Has Obtained All Her Clearance To Be Released To You.

Finally we are Standby to Receive Your Communication and Release Your Funds to You Through the mode of payment you will need that is listed above Without Further Delay. And also We Are Working 24 Hours To Be Able To Meet up With The Mandate Given By The World Bank. It Is Better That You Contact us For More Detailed Information and your among the 10 people that will receive payment this month.

Thanks For Your Cooperation.


Mr. Herve Assah,
Resident Representative
EMAIL. africandevelopmentbank@indiatimes.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam