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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:
  • "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • barrsteve02202@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr. Steve Nwa" <barrsteve02202@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: legalstevenwa@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 22:44:22 +0900 (JST)
Subject: URGENT REQUEST INHERITANCE CLAIM.

$B?7$7$$%a!<%k%"%I%l%9$r$*CN$i$;$7$^$9?7$7$$%a!<%k%"%I%l%9!'(B barrsteve02202@yahoo.co.jp

I am Barrister Steve Nwa, Personal Attorney to Mrs.Ann Parker,I may like you to assist me stand as the Next of Kin to my late client Mrs.Ann Parker Inheritance fund $26.5m. SEND YOUR NAME,ADDRESS,AGE, OCCUPATION,PHONE AND FAX NUMBER TO CLAIM THIS FUND.I will advice you further. Barr. Steve Nwa.

- Barr. Steve Nwa

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam