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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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.
  
• 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.
  • finreconcenter@webmail.co.za

Fraud email example:

From: "Mathew K. Thmbaka" <finreconcenter@webmail.co> (may be fake)
Reply-To: finreconcenter@webmail.co.za
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2006 17:54:32 +0200
Subject: Please Confirm

OFFICE OF THE FUND RECONCILIATION CENTER
( Financial Intelligence Center/Agency, South Africa )
South African Reserve Bank Building, Durban
E-mail finreconcenter@webmail.co.za

Dear Sir/Madam

It has come to our attention that you are the beneficiary of an amount of money (witheld) meant to be transfered to your overseas account by the South African Reserve Bank

Could you please confirm the above (stating exact amount) or decline immediately. The Government of South Africa, office of the Auditor General, the South African Reserve Bank and other agencies of Government are working on a series of efforts to pay out or transfer all outstanding funds in the Central Bank (South African Reserve Bank) and or in any of the appointed commercial banks.

Please advice on the above for our immediate action to transfer fund to your appointed bank. Contact the undersigned if you need more clarification on this matter :


Regards
Mathew Kolo

Fund Reconciliation Center
(Appointed/Authorised Agent)
finreconcenter@webmail.co.za



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam