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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.

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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447040131687 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Edward" <pete_edward19_45@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barryysmith1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:23:15 +0000
Subject: barry

Dear Friend,

MY NAME IS BARRY SMITH. I LIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH MY WIFE AND A
LITTLE DAUGHTER.I AM A CONTRACTOR AND A SUPPLIER OF INDUSTRIAL AND EARTH
MOVING EQUIPMENTS.I HAVE SOME BUSINESS PARTNERS FROM BOTH THE UNITED STATES
AND CANADA WHICH I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT IN RECEIVING MY PAYMENTS FROM
THEM. I WANT YOU TO BE MY REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO WILL BE
RECEIVING MY PAYMENTS FROM MY CLIENTS OVER THERE.THESE PAYMENTS COMES IN
FORM OF MONEY ORDERS AND CHECKS.

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO 10% OF EVERY OF MY PAYMENTS THAT PASSED THROUGH YOU,
THIS IS HOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE PAID, THERE WILL BE NO MONTHLY SALARY
ATTACHED TO YOU. NOTE THAT YOU ARE NOT PUTTING YOUR MONEY OR SPENDING
ANYTHING AT THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.THIS TRANSACTION IS RISK FREE
AND DOES NOT RELATE TO MONEY LAUNDERING.I WILL DETAIL YOU AS SOON AS I
HEAR FROM YOU.

REGARDS
BARRY
+447040131687



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam