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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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• 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:
  • "million us 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)
  • "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Charles Duke" <charlesduke06@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: charlesduke014@myway.com
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 05:17:37 -0600
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL.

FROM: Sgt Charles Duke.

Dear Sir,
Good day to you
My name is Charles Duke a british soldier serving in the US military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq. We have just been posted out of  Iraq to Germany but I am presently in Kuwait at the mean time.
My superior and I moved some large funds belonging to FORMER MINISTER IN IRAQ ,worth $25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five million US dollars) This money is being kept safe in a security company.
Click on this link to read about events that took place here.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

Basically since we are working for the government we cannot keep these funds, but we want to transfer and move the funds to you, so that you can keep it for us in your safe account or an offshore account. We will divide the total funds in three ways, since three parties are involved.10% will be kept aside for  expenses.
This business is confidential, and it should not be discussed with anyone.
There is no risk involved whatsoever.
 If you are interested i will send you the full details as my job is to find a good partner that we can trust and that will assist us.

Can i trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail
signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone/fax
numbers, Full Address, Age Occupation,  for quick communication
This business is risk free. Please reply me via this email  for security reasons.

Respectfully submitted

Sgt. Charles Duke

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam