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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
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• 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.

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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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",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: Usman Tambo <usmantambo23@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <umantambo2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:19:36 -0500
Subject: Investment Proposal (From Usman Tambo)



Dear Friend, My name is Usman Tambo, a business man from UK. I have some funds of mine at the tune of $200,000,000 (two hundread Million Dollars) and I will want to transfer $5,000,000 (Five Million Dollars) to your account for investment purposes in the real estate business. 25% of the said funds will be allocated to you for your assistance,You will not spend any single money from your pocket to see to the end of this transaction, since the charges to acquire the covering documents of the said funds will be wired to your Home or Business Equity Line of Credit Account which you will need to provide to taste your sincerity not to sit on the funds. This transaction is 100% legal and above board, moreover I had to be very careful about the scams going on all over the world before contacting you since I do not want to be a victim. I sincerely hope you have the said HOME/BUSINESS EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT ACCOUNT and do keep this transaction confidential within yourself so that we can both achieve our aims. Do reply if interested for me to give more information and how the transfer will be effected. Best Regards,Usman Tambo
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam