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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "John Alison" <johnalison01@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: johnalison01@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 22:13:36 +0000
Subject: From John Alison

DEAR SIR/MA

CONFIDENTIAL

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS ASURPRISE BECAUSE YOU
DO NOT KNOW ME .I AM JOHN ALISON, I WORK IN THE
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, PACKAGING AND COURIER
DEPARTMENT.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON
THROUGH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE CENTRAL BANK
WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU.I WANT YOU TO HELP
ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN EUROPE WHICH
I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR CBN ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT
THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE IS $20,000,000.00 ALL IN
$100.00 BILLS, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW
THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVEIN THE PACKAGE .ALL I
WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS THIS GIVE ME

YOUR MAILING ADDRESS
YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX

AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY , YOU WILL HAVE
30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME .MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE
REVEALED TO ANYBODY. IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY
YOU,YOU CAN CALL E-MAIL ME FOR SECURITY REASONS
OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET
BACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES
TO YOU . NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLY
THROUGH E-MAIL FOR SECURITY REASONS.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR JOHN ALISON


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam