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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:
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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • robertchave_z@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Robert Chavez" <bre_nathan@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: robertchave_z@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:15:15 +0100
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

I am Mr.Robert Chavez, Branch Manager of one of the banks in London,United Kingdom.During our investigation and auditing in this bank,my department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a wealthy and now deceased customer of our Bank who died on 25 July 2000 in a plane crash in Gonesse,France.

Directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist us.
Please get back to me on my personal email address:robertchave_z@yahoo.co.uk

Yours faithfully,
Mr.Robert Chavez

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam