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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• 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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "William R. Howell" <whowell456@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:38:21 -1200
Subject: OPPORTUNITY FROM EXXONMOBIL

Hello,

I'm William R. Howell, an Executive Member of the Audit and
Compensation Committee of ExxonMobil in London (
http://www.exxonmobil.co.uk). I have a sensitive and private
brief from the Senior Executives of this top oil company in
need of your partnership to re-profile funds amounting to
US$12.2M (Twelve Million Two Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars). I will let you have the details but in summary,
the fund shall be paid to you through our operating bank
where it is presently deposited as soon as the legalization
and documentation process is concluded in your name.


This is a legitimate transaction without government
interference and you shall be compensated with 20% of the
total sum, should you and your company agree to work with
us. If you are interested, please reply for further
details.

Warm Regards,


William Howell.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam