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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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Donald Johnson" <donjohno4o@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: djohnson_45@excite.com
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 08:04:47 +0000
Subject: For Your Consideration.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Donald Johnson, a senior accounts officer with a commercial Bank in Nigeria. I humbly seek your cooperation in a business deal in which to redirect amount of Twenty million US Dollars into your Country for investment as free capital injection. The money was abandoned by Chief Mrs Stella Obasanjon, the late wife of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria due to her death.

I had the opportunity of  handling discrete financial dealings of late Chief Mrs Stella Obasanjon. Hence, I have privileged information with valid details to her Deposit Account with my bank. The account was over time corruptly funded by agents of the Government of Nigeria. As at date, the account has a total balance of Twenty five million US Dollars with a maturity date of october,2005. On maturity of her deposit, She instructed us to assist her transfer the money to her overseas account.  I  personally arranged the transfer to suite her demand and desire which unfortunately coincided with her death on 23rd oct 2005 after surgery in a spanish hospital. 

I have chosen to contact you in order that we can liaise to bring the money into your country for our mutual benefit.If you consider my proposition and will like us to discuss further, kindly reply so I can elaborate more on the plan to accomplish movement of the fund to you without any risks or consequences whatsoever.

Kind regards,
Donald Johnson.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam