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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge amount of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "is highly confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "CHARITY IGE" <cha_ige_5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: cha_ige112@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:52:18 +0000
Subject: ASSISTANCE

ATTN: SIR,

COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON. IN FACT IT GIVES ME A GREAT PLEASURE TO CONTACT
YOU INTO THIS TRANSACTION. FOR FORMAL INTRODUCTION MY NAME IS CHARITY IGE
THE WIFE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION ALSO MINISTER OF JUSTICE OF
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.WHO WAS SHORT TO DEATH ON 23RD DAY OF DECEMBER
2001 BY UNKNOWN PEOPLE.

I WILL LIKE INFORM YOU ABOUT A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY (US$18.5M) THAT WAS IN
MY HUSBAND POSSESSION BEFORE HE WAS KILLED.WHICH I WILL LIKE TO PUT IN YOUR
POSSESSION FOR SECURITY REASONS,BECOUSE THE EARLIER THE BETTER.MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE SEND TO YOU IMMEDIATLEY I RECIEVE
YOUR URGENT REPLY TO ASSIST ME IN THE TRANSACTION. PLEASE FORWARD YOUR
TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.SO AS TO REACH YOU,

BECAUSE IKNOW YOU WILL REQUIRE KNOWING OF THE HUGE AMOUNT THAT WILL BE
TRANSACTED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. DON'T FORGETH THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100%
RISK FREE.ALSO FOR AS LONG AS YOU PROMISE TO ASSIST ME IN THIS TRANSACTION
25%WILL BE GIVING TO YOU FOR A WELL DONE ASSISTANCE. REMEMBER THAT THIS
TRANSACTION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND BE COVERD.

BEST REGARD
MRS CHARITY IGE

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam