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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.

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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:
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Babatunde Williams" <babawilliams@mail.ru> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 05:48:53 +0100
Subject: To whomever it may concern

To whomever it may concern,

My name is Babatunde Williams, son of Engineer Anthony Olufunso Williams, frontline Politician who was recently murdered by unknown assassins. Please see the following web links for some details:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200607280608.html
http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/paperfrmes.html
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=54697
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article01

Two days ago, I received a death threat from unknown persons, and I have decided to flee from my Country. But first, my mother advised me to liquidate and turn into cash Eurobonds denominated in three currencies, The US$, British Pounds Sterling, and Japanese Yen. The US$ Bonds total US$25million, issued by the World Bank, France and Sweden; The UK Pounds Sterling Bonds total 20 million Pounds Sterling, issued by The Asian Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank; The Japanese Yen Bonds total 40 million issued by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank.

The maturity dates for the Eurobonds denominated in US$ is 25.04.2007; the Pounds Sterling Eurobonds will mature in 09.02.2007, and finally the Eurobonds denominated in Japanese Yen will mature in 04.05.2007.

For security reasons, these Eurobonds which belonged to my late father cannot be sold or discounted in Nigeria; I therefore need your help to sell or discount them abroad… If you can help me, please reply immediately so that I can give you more details, including details of the Eurobond Certificates which are all registered.

Please respond urgently because my life is at stake!

Regards,

Babatunde Williams
Lagos, Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam