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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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• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "million united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Tony Obi" <tonyobi@3darenanet.com>
Reply-To: tonyobixx@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007 10:36:58 +0300
Subject: Compliment of the day to you

Compliment of the day to you

My name is Tony Obi, a consultant in Nigeria. I have a brief
discussion with executives of a top Oil company (Exxon Mobil)
http://www.exxonmobil.com in Port Harcourt Nigeria.

I have a very sensitive and private brief from this top Oil company
executives to ask for your partnership to re-profile funds over
$67Million (Sixty Seven Million United State Dollars).

I will give you the details, but in summary, the funds would be pay to
you via a trust Finance company, and this is a legitimate transaction
and without any government interference.

You will be duly compensated for your "Re-profiling fees", if you and
your company agree to work with us.

If you are interested, please write back and provide me with your
confidential telephone number, and email address and I will provide
further details.

Best Regards,
Tony Obi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam