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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: Wilfred Sazili <wifrdsazili@inbox.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:59:56 -0800
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS,



WILFRED LAWFIRM,
N,6E-1 JALAN LABROOY
IPOH, MALAYSIA.
Tel :( + 60-162914089 / 60-146304658 =5D


=20
ATT. PARWEZ ALAM , =20
=20


I RECEIVED YOUR MAIL AND I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS PROGRAMME IS REAL =
AND NOT A JOKE AND IT IS SPONSORED BY TWO MAIN WORLD KNOWN PROMINENT =
PERSONALITIES. =20
=20

HIS HIGHNESS SULTAN OF BRUNEI AND BILL GATES OF MICROSOFT TO ENCOURAGE THE =
USE OF INTERNET AND COMPUTERS WORLD WIDE.ALL WINNERS ARE SELECTED RANDOMLY =
THROUGH A COMPUTER DRAW SYSTEM. =20


ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO FORWARD A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR =
ANY OTHER IDENTIFICATION ID COPY, FOR CONFIRMATION AND TO FACILITATE THE =
RELEASE AND DELIVERY OF YOUR CHEQUE TO YOUR NOMINATED ADDRESS.=20


BEST REGARDS AND CONGRATULATIONS, I WILL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU AS =
SOON AS POSSIBLE.=20

I SEND TO YOU ONE OF MY IDENTIFICATION ID CARD,


BARRISTER WILFRED SAZILI ,=5BESQ=5D

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam