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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Prapat Awuno Esq <aw_aw_1@msn.com>
Reply-To: <prapatawuno@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 02:34:26 +0000
Subject: apology



Dear Sir/Madam,

Please kindly accept my apology for sending this
unsolicited email to you, I believe you are a highly placed person
considering the fact that I got your email from a human resource
database of your country. I request you treat what I am about telling
you with seriousness and confidentiality.

Well, I am Prapat
Awuno Esq., a solicitor. I was the personal attorney to Mr. Adams
Victor James who used to work with a telecom company here in Thailand
as a contract staff. On the 21st of April 2007, he died in his sleep.
Before his death, I helped him deposit the sum of US$4.12m with a bank
here.

All I require now is your honest co-operation so that
you can apply as his beneficiary and claim this deposit. The fund shall
be shared into two equal halves between both of us. I guarantee that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of law. Should you be interested, write back with
your name and phone number for me to give you details.

Thank you,
Prapat Awuno Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam