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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:
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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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Pete Williams" <petewilliams200259@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2005 11:35:14 +0000
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,

Dear Beneficiary,
Notification of Bequest.
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate
of Late Mr.WILLIAM BARNES, I once again try to notify
you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I
hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email
address on the WILL. I wish to notify you that
Late Mr.WILLIAM BARNES made you a beneficiary to his WILL.
He left the sum offifteen million three hundred thousand dollars
($15.300.000.00) to you in the
codicil and last testament to his will.
This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it
is real and true. Being a widely travelled man, he
must have been in contact with you in the past or
simply you were nominated to him by one of his
numerous friends abroad who wished you good.
until his death was a member of the Helicopter
Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical
Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved
to give out. His great philanthropy earned him
numerous awards during his life time.
Late Mr.WILLIAM BARNES died on the 31st day of October 1999 at the
age of 90 years, and his WILL is now ready for
execution. According to him this money is to support
your Christian activities and to help the poor and the
needy.
Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get
back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude
my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant time.
Yours in His service,
Barr.pete Esq).


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam