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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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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "innocent obi" <innocentobi01@msn.com>
Reply-To: onyekaabc@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 09:49:32 +0000
Subject: Nice to meet you.


DEAR SIR/MADAM,
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.
I AM MR INNOCENT OBI , I WORK IN THE ECO-BANK CONTONU, REPUBLIC OF BENIN,
WEST AFRICA, PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT.I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY
SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE ECO-BANK
WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU.

I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN SECURITIES
COMPANY
WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR ECO-BANK ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE
CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE IS ($20,000,000.0) ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BELONGING
TO OUR LATE COSTOMER WHO DIED EARLIER LAST YEAR, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY
DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE. ALL I WANT YOU TO
DO FOR ME NOW IS TO FORWARD TO ME THIS BELOW INFORMATION

YOUR CURRENT/PRIVATE MAILING ADDRESS
YOUR PRIVATEPHONE AND FAX NUM AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
YOU WILL HAVE 30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.MY IDENTITY MUST
NOT BEREVEALED TO ANYBODY.

IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU, YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT 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 INNOCENT OBI.

IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL AND FEEL THAT YOU WILL ASSIST ME IN
THIS MATTER, SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS ON HOW TO GET THE CONSIGNMENT OF
MONEY DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR SINCERITY TOWARDS THIS MATTER



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam