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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • pauldenis51@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Prince Richard <prince.r.a00@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <pauldenis51@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 08:44:33 +0100
Subject: I WAS PLEASED WITH YOUR EARLIER ASSISTANT.



Dear Good Friend, I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred with the help of a new partner from Ukraine, I want you to contact my secretary on the below information his name is Mr.Paul Denis, email:(pauldenis51@yahoo.com )ask him to send you the total sum of (£500,000.00GBP) Five Hundred thousand pounds in an international certified bank draft, which I kept for your compensation. Therefore I gave him the sum of $100 to register the draft with a courier service that will deliver it to you, so you can contact him now and give him your full information to send the bank draft to you. Do not fail to update me as soon as you receive it, so we can share the joy together. Best RegardsPrince Richard Adams .
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam