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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:
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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: "SGT. WILLIAMS BAKER" <jenni@reedtribe.org>
Reply-To: sgt876551@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2006 07:37:12 -0800
Subject: Merry Christmas!!!!

Good Day,

I hope my email meets you well. I am in need of your assistance. My name
is Sgt Williams Baker, Jr. I am in the Engineering military unit here in
Ba'qubah in Iraq,we have about $20 Million US dollars that we want to move
out of the country.My partners and I need a good partner someone we can
trust. It is oil money and legal.

We have made arrangements with a Diplomatic courier service that will move
the funds out of Iraq as a family treasure. The most important thing is
that can we trust you? Once the funds get to you, you take your 20% out
and keep our own 80%. Your own part of this deal is to find a safe place
where the funds can be sent to. Our own part is sending it to you.If you
are interested I will furnish you with more details, but the whole process
is simple and we must keep a low profile at all times.

I look forward to your reply and co-operation, and I thank you in advance
as I anticipate your co-operation.

Waiting for your urgent response

Regards,

Sgt. Williams Baker

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam