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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states 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.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • benmorg04@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Ben Morgan <bmorg9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <benmorg04@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 20:49:33 -0600
Subject: INTRODUCING BUSINESS TRANSACTION



Dear Sir, I am the Director of Projects / Chairman foreign contract committee in the ministry of agriculture. By the virtue of my position and the power bestowed on us by Government, We carefully and deliberately over invoiced some contracts in the ministry of agriculture to the tune of $12.5 million United States dollars. The contracts have been fully executed and payments are about to be made to all foreign contractors. Hence, we need offshore account now the payment is going on so that we can use the account to receive the over invoiced sum for our mutual benefits because my country law does not permit us as a civil servants to own or operate foreign bank account while in the service. I have resolved with my partners and agreed that whoever provide us with offshore account and other logistics needed for this transaction will be compensated with (25%) of the total sum in exchange for assisting. On completion and confirmation of wire in your bank account myself and a colleague will come and meet you for sharing. Please ensure to treat this matter in strict privacy to avoid any leakage to my government or any other person as we have to protect our job as civil servants even if you decided not to assist us.
Kindly reply through my private email:benmorg04@yahoo.co.uk I await your response. Yours faithfully,
Dr.Ben Morgan
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam