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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
  • "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447011120196 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • thomaswest_attorney@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: THOMAS WEST <t_west_2@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <thomaswest_attorney@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 03:56:25 -0600
Subject: I REQUEST FOR YOUR CONSENT IMMEDIATELY


Attention:Sir/Madam,Compliments of the day.I am Thomas West, Esq, and Principal attorney of Westfields &Associates UK and family attorney to the late Mr. Peter.My late client made a numbered time fixed deposit with a bank here in United Kingdom before his death.At the review of his account after his death, we found out that your name was registered as the possible next of kin who should be contacted in case of his death.Please, i advice that you get back to me immediately through my Private email:thomaswest_attorney@yahoo.com or my direct line :+447011120196 for further briefing and information on this subject matter.Have a nice day.Thomas West, Esq.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam