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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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• 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:
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
• 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.
  • +22997049212 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Advocate Igor Wuigo Nkwa <igo_advocate@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 12:20:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: on your favour


Hello,
My name is Barrister Igor Wuigo Nkwa, I got your email address from my client's handy diary and I want inform you that my client Mrs. Almira Ahmed Hassanal Bolkiah has left a Will whort of US$21Million for you, contact me immediately with this following number for directives. +22997049212 .
I am Waiting
Igor W. N. ( Esq )


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam