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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",000,000" (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: "Mr. Lindsay Town." <lldtown002@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: twlds01@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:10:42 -0400
Subject: Partnership request.

Dear friend,

I am contacting you for a business transaction involving GBP
£17,000,000 (Seventeen Million Pounds Sterling) hoping
that you will contact me at your earliest convenient for a
possible business deal.

I am presently the External Auditor of Bank Of Scotland Plc,
with your sincere assistant and co-operation,I have
determined to work this deal with you if you can do the
business. At the moment,I am constrained to issue more
details about this business until your positive response is
received. Please take a moment of your time to read this and
send your response. I assure you that this deal is worth
taking and highly profitable.

Thank you for your time and attention.
Warmest regards,
Mr. Lindsay Town,
External Auditor,
Bank Of Scotland Plc.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam