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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.

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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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: David Okeke <dv_oke1v1@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <dv_oke@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:22:39 +0100
Subject: your compensation



Hello dear, My boss gave me a certified bank draft of $1,500,000.00 (one million five hundred thousand united states dollars only) that I should send it to you as compensation for all your efforts to assist him gets the funds. Remember he contacted you sometime in the past to assist him repatriate the funds abroad so that the two of you can share the money. He directed me to notify you about his success in getting those funds transferred to Lebanon under the cooperation of a new partner from Lebanon. He left to Lebanon earlier last week with some people and from there; he will go to the USA. Meanwhile, confirm your address so that I can send the original draft to you. My boss is presently in Lebanon for investment projects with his own share of the total sum. He reiterated that he didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist him in transferring those funds despite that it failed you somehow. Now get in touch with me so that I can send you the certifiedinternational bank draft of total $1,500,000.00, which my boss kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist him in this matter. He appreciated your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touch with me and instruct me where to send the draft to you. Yours faithfully,David Okeke.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam