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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:
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Usman Alli" <usman_alli2@sympatico.ca>
Reply-To: usman_alii2@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 12:26:38 +0000
Subject: FROM USMAN

Dear Sir,

My name is Dr Usman Ali I am about to retire from my work before the the end of next year. I write to inform you of my intention to invest in Hotel business in your country .and to request to you to assists me carrying out feasibility studies on location, type and estimation on how much it will cost to establish a three star hotel, either by outright purchase, or already existing but dilapidated one and renovate or setting up a new oneentirely.

If you sincerely carry out this survey, and give me a feedback as early as possible, I will give you the power of attorney to build & manage the hotel on my behalf, Pending my retirement next year. I have tweenty five million United State Dollars (US$25,000,000.00) . I deposited this in a Finance company outside the country.

I am presently down with sickness as a result of my old age but I have been assured by my doctor that I will be fine and back to work soon. Please do let me know if you are capable of handling all these. I will be expecting your reply as soon as possible.

Thanks

Dr Usman Ali

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam