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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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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Kay Williams" <ecs_900@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mhengz@techie.com
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 04:28:07 -0800 (PST)
Subject: attention needed


Dear Sir/Madam,

INVESTMENT ENQUIRY ON ESTATE PROPERTIES.

It is with heartfelt hope that I write to seek your co-operation and assistance in my desire to invest into Estate properties in your country.Briefly, I am an old man and due for retirement at any moment from now after putting many years in civil service as Secretary Ministerial Contract Evaluation and Implementation, in the presidency . And during this past years in the office I was able to secure huge amount of money from over-invoiced Government Contract Bills, through the advantage of my position in the office. I have been deliberating on how to invest this fund abroad in a confidential manner untill I came to a conclusion to use it to buy Estate Properties and lease to people while part of it will be used for non ? speculative investments in your country as part of measures to secure the betterment of my retirement future, till I come over to meet with you. In view of this therefore, I am soliciting your confidence, support and assistance as my partner to claim this
fund for the investment project with your name and support from the Security Vault where I deposited it for safe keeping. This is because we civil servants are not allowed to own and operate Dollar Accounts, especially outside the country. As a matter of fact, to claim this fund remains the vital issue for now which after the successful claim of the fund we can then invest immediately into any Estate Property you may consider lucrative in your country or else where. However, I will be happy to disclose to you the amount to be claimed and invested as soon as I received your reply, as I expect you to be trustworthy and kind enough to respond positively to my ENQUIRY.

Assist me please.

Thanks

Dr. Kay Williams


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam