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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "cheques " (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 company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
• 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.
  • +31633731993 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • petrogoldintcomp@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr patrick Williams" <ifbvinfo@mynet.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:25:21 +0700
Subject: OPEN INVITATION

MR Patrick Williams Senior Chief Consulting Officer PETRO GOLD INTERNATIONAL TRADING JOINT STOCK COMPANY KINGASTRAAT 554, 1023 TS ROTHERDAM NETHERLANDS Email:petrogoldintcomp@netscape.net TEL:+31-633-731-993 FAX:+31-847-299-647 Ref No P.G.I.T/ 234765/04 Dear Sir/Madam, I am Mr.Patrick williams,Senior Chief Consulting Officer of Petro Gold International Trading Joint Stock Company Rotherdam Netherlands. we are a company who deals on Raw materials, precious stones export into Canada, America and Europe. We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting across to our costumers in the Canada/America as well as making payments through you to us. It will require you working online from home and getting paid weekly or on percentage basis, depending on the mode of transaction and an agreed arrangement with you, without having to quit or affecting your present job. Our customers all around your vicinity would be directed to make orders and payments for the supplies of our products purchased from us and delivered by our courier services weekly or monthly through you to our company. As you might know some of the cheques or drafts paid to us for goods purchased are not readily cashable outside the U.S.A, so we are always facing problems and delays in receiving our payments on time which is not so good for a growing company as ours,and as such we need you to work in your country as our Overseas representative and assist us In processing the payments from our customers, so as to save us a lot of time and difficulty in getting our payments on time. Please if you are interested in transacting business with us we will be glad. Please contact us for more information, Subject to your satisfaction you will be given the opportunity to negotiate your mode of which we will pay for your services as our representative in Canada/America and Europe. Please if you are interested in taking up this job with our company kindly forward to us your phone number/fax and your full contact addresses, to enable our open communication with you earliest. You can reach us on any of our e-mails below. Thanks in advance and awaiting your prompt response Sincerely Yours Mr.Patrick Williams CEO. NB: Reply to:petrogoldintcomp@netscape.net

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam