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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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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.
  
• 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.
  • +66831099671 (Thailand, probably a mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Victor Williams <victorwilliamsu224@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <victorwilliams444@yahoo.es>
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 12:53:36 +0500
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE URGENTLY.


>From Mr.Victor Williams.TELEPHONE:+668-310-99671FAX NUMBER:668-310-9967156/74 M.Thanawan, Phaholyothin52,Bangkok, Thailand. We are Diplomatic Corp that holds special and valuable consignments for reputable clients that are honest and trustworthy. We work in collaboration with top firms all over the world as we have earned a name as a service whose hallmarks in reliability and confidentiality are revered. International missions, Diplomats, Embassies of the world have used our services to satisfaction. A benefactor has mandated me to get someone that can assist her and her family in retrieving her package containing some amount of money from a Diplomatic Corp in Thailand. The benefactor and her children have been confined only to their country home and all their calls and movements are monitored, as a result,its absoultely impossible for them to do anything as regards retrieving the money. Their only means of communication is via internet and you are being contacted because your assistance is needed in claiming the funds on their behalf. The amount was accrued from Diamond sales over a period of six years and its USD75M (Seventy Five Million U.S.Dollars). These funds are fully free of any liens, or encumbrances and are clean, clear and has no criminal origin. The funds have nothing to do with any form of illegality and all documentations needed to prove the source of the funds were submitted when the funds were being deposited and these documents would prove the source of the funds and authenticate the fact that the funds are clean and has no links whatsoever with either drugs or terrorism. For your assistance in this transaction,the benefactor and her Children have agreed to give you 30% of the total amount of money which is equivalent to US$22.5 Million (Twenty Two Million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and this role simply entails retrieving the funds on their behalf from the Diplomats in Thailand and all the information needed to claim the funds would be sent to you as soon as you indicate your interest in assisting them as well as providing the following information to facilitate the smooth conclusion of the transaction. 1) Your Full Name:2) Your Address:3) Your Telephone Number:4) Your Fax Number:5) Your Mobile Number:6) The Name of the Closest Airport to your City of Residence:7) Your Age: I await your response Urgently. Mr.Victor Williams.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam