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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.

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. )
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • +2348029495128 (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.
  • revwcooper321@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Donald Mathew." <donaldmathew744@gmail.com>
Reply-To: donaldmathew74@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:50:00 -0700
Subject: YOUR FUND RELEASED.

>From Desk of the President
African Development Bank,
(WWW.AFDB.ORG)
No 12 Tinubu Square Lagos-Nigeria


I am Mr. Donald Mathew, the President African Development Bank. This is to bring to your notice that my office has taking over all the money Transaction originated from any 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 SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER in Europe,America, Africa and Asia Pacific, Hence Your Name appears as one of the fund beneficiaries whom their fund was successfully cleared recently From Terrorist and Money laundry and your money will be released to you Through ATM CARD that will be cash able via ATM MACHINE, through our SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER in Europe, America, Africa and Asia Pacific, been the only way you would receive Your money to avoid paying excess charges.


As regards to this arrangement You are advised to contact the telex director Rev William Cooper through his Direct Email; revwcooper321@sify.com, inform him to issue you the ATM CARD with the complete name you would provide to him. You are therefore advised to forward

Your complete name:
Your mailing address:
Your direct telephone numbers:
Date of birth:
Occupation/Gender:

To Rev William Cooper for Immediate release of your money most importantly be aware that NINE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS Only (US$9,200,000.00) 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
Rev. William Cooper to release to you through any faster courier service.


Therefore be aware that your fund has obtained all it's clearance to be Released to you. Finally Rev William Cooper is standby to receive your communication and Release your funds to you through ATM CARD Without any delay. Make your contact directly to Rev William Cooper, Tel: +234-8029495128 Email; revwcooper321@sify.com any time because we are working 24 Hours to be able to meet up with the mandate given to us by the world bank.It is more better that you make your contact to Rev. William Cooper through telephone for more detailed information as he is a very busy Man.


Thanks for Your Cooperation.


Mr.Donald Mathew
(President) African Development Bank
www.afdb.org

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam