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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (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.
  
• 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.
  • +2215532508 (Senegal, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter West" <peter_53_west@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2006 21:38:09 +0200
Subject: Hello,this is Peter

Hello Friend,
This mail correspondence may come to you as a surprise due to the fact
that we have not met,i know that this is an unlikely platform to start
this kind of relationship but i am constrained by the present situation
of my family and i request you to permit me use this medium to
introduce myself.
I am a liberian and was the personal aide on domestic affairs to our
former president,Mr.Charles Taylor.
I am currently in Dakar,Senegal and would need your co-operation in
moving out some funds from here for investments in your country.
For your help,i will be happy to share the funds with you according to
an agreed percentage. Please indicate your interest in working with me
so that i can give you full details.If i do not hear from you in 7
days, i shall consider it that you are not favourably disposed to accept my offer.
Thanks,
Peter West
Private Telephone;+221-553-2508.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam