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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!
  
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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.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +447040102383 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704786425 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447704939806
• 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.
  • danieledward2006@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: thomasbaker080@comcast.net
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 23:03:48 +0000
Subject: From Mr Daniel Edward



--

From the desk of Branch Operation Manager
Natwest Bank (Mayfair Commercial Banking Centre)
65 Piccadilly London WIA 2PP,United kingdom.
Direct Tel: +44 770 493 9806 or +44 704 010 2383
Fax: +44 870 478 6425
danieledward2006@yahoo.com
www.Natwestbank.com

I greet you in the name of God almighty with the believe that this
message gets to you in good health and state of mind; I am Daniel Edward
the branch manager of the above address (Nat west bank). I am contacting
you with the view that the content in this message would be of interest
to you and mutual benefits to both of us, I know you will be wondering
why I am writing you such a sensitive proposal considering the
magnitude of the funds involved especially to a total stranger but I wish to
inform you here that my contacting you is not by mistake but by virtue of
God's doing because I believe that such circumstances of this kind
happens for a reason, based on this I decided to write you through my
official w

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam