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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:
  • "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)
  • "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • bingucass@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Bingu Lucas <bingucass@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:30:00 +0100
Subject: Compliment of the season.


Eng: BINGU LUCAS msc
DEPARTMENT OF MINES, ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES.
LILONGWE 3, MALAWI.
Email (Private account): bingucass@aim.com

Attention:

I am a member of the contract award committee and 14 project allocation =
manager of the Department of Mines, Energy and Natural Resources in MALAWI =
(south-eastern Africa).

I am in search of an agent to assist us in the transfer of Seven Million and =
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($7,500.000) and subsequent =
investment in properties in your country. You will be required to;

(1) Assist in the transfer of the said funds.

(2) Advise on lucrative areas for investment.

(3) Assist us in purchase of properties.

I will appreciate a prompt response from you including your full name and =
telephone number via email through the above email account, so that I can =
provide you further details on how we can quickly realize this transaction =
together.

Finally, if you are not interested in this proposal, I apologize for any =
inconveniences.

I wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Eng. Bingu Lucas.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam