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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
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "NATWEST BANK PLC LONDON" <nat_westbak_plc041@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <natwestbnkplc011@uku.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 21:24:12 +0100
Subject: STATUS OF YOUR FUNDS



NATWEST BANK PLC,10 Southwark Street,London Bridge, London - UKSE1 1TTRC: 121878Our Ref:NTB/WESTMIN/INTER-07Your Ref.......
Date: 06/07/07
Attn:Dear Friend,

This is to notify you about the status of your funds right now in our desk. After due vetting and evaluation of your contract file, which The Ministry of Finance of Federal Republic of Nigeria forwarded and contracted us to see to your immediate payment.

From our findings, you have been going through hard ways by paying a lot of charges to see to the release of your fund, which has been delayed. Please, from now henceforth stop further communication with any correspondence from Nigeria.

You are not to pay any charges to receive your contract funds anymore as you have meet up with the whole requirements. Your representatives in Nigeria will tell you to still go ahead with them but on your own risk. The only thing required from you is to forward your Non-Resident Clearance certificate/Receipt to this office. The Government of Nigeria has paid us for handling/processing of your payment with other Contractors, Inheritance and Lottery Winners. As soon as we receive the above document, We shall effect your payment immediately.

Will you follow our directives, your funds will reflect in your account within seven working days from the date we receive it. Do not respond to any correspondence again but only to this Bank, if you're the real beneficiary.

Direct all message email address ID: natwestbnkplc011@uku.co.ukCongratulations in advance.

Dr. Joshua LarryPayment CoordinatorNatwest Bank Plc.London U.K

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam