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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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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 united states 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • biandrew329@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Bishop Andrew Wright." <bishopandrew123@gawab.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2006 12:31:05 +0000
Subject: From Bishop Andrew Wright


Greetings in the name of the Lord,

I am Bishop Andrew Wright. Before I contacted you, I fasted and prayed over it.
It was through God guidance I was able to contact you.

Right now as I am writing to you I am in hiding because of the past leaders in my country
hunting for my life. They pushed away through me $50m (Fifty million United States Dollars)
cash which I kept in a bank in Italy.

What I want you to do is securing this fund and distribute it to charity because as I
man of God I should not have involved myself in this type of mess. I am doing this so
that I can once again find favor in the sight of God because I have really sinned against him.
I should have not been involved in stealing from the treasury of my country.

As soon as I receive your favorable reply, I would then direct you to a consultant who would
assist you with the security code that I am going to give you. Please do furnish me with your
telephone numbers so that I can be able to talk to you and give you more details.

I am waiting for your urgent response.

Finally the success of this project depends to a great extent you’re keeping it secret between you
and I and your confidentiality in this transaction.

Please reply me to my private email address biandrew329@hotmail.com

God bless you.

Bishop Andrew Wright.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam