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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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• 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447040131849 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "mark smith" <marksmithlawchambers@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: marksmith2k@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 19:04:06 +0000
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

Dear sir/madam,
I pray that this mail gets to you not as a surprise, but in sound mental,
spiritual and physical health.I got your e-mail address from a small E-mail
Directory in the ministry of external affairs here in my country and i
decide to contact you immediadtely.

I have a client who wants to invest in your country with the sum of
US$12.5M.His is a General in the army and he needs protection for his
family.

The reason of wanting to invest in your country is to dissociate himself
from government banklet allegation that top military officers are in the
habit of giving financial support to people agaist government policies,if
you can handle such a huge sum of investment please get back to me as soon
as possible so that I will give you the detailed information, for example
the investment plan and agreement procedure.


I am waiting for your urgent response.


Barrister Mark Smith

Phone:+447040131849
London, United Kingdom

Thank you.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam