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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cheque " (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • rev_anthony004@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: eric_bowell <j_mark@orange.nl>
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 07:30:55 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CONTACT REVEREND ANTHONY


DEAR FRIEND,

I AM BARRISTER ERIC BOWELL AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUTMY SUCCESS IN GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERED. NOW I WANT YOU TO CONTACT (REVEREND ANTHONY) ON THE INFORMATION BELOW TO RECEIVE YOUR COMPENSATION OF ($1.5MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY).

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT HIM
(REVEREND ANTHONY EKU) .
EMAIL ADDRESS (rev_anthony004@yahoo.fr)


SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO PROVE YOURSELF TO HIM:


YOUR FULL NAME;...............................
YOUR ADDRESS:................................
YOUR COUNTRY:.................................
YOUR AGE:.........................................
YOUR OCCUPATION:...........................
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:......................



NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HIM THE ABOVE INFORMATION COMPLETE, HE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHEQUE TO YOU BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE SURE THAT IT'S YOU. ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL SUM OF $1.5 MILLION US DOLLARS CASHIER'S CHEQUE, WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU. NOTE ALSO THAT I WILL NOT BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE FOR NOW BECAUSE I AM CORRENTLY AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE WITH MY SHARE AND I WILL BE BUSY TILL ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME OR A YEAR.


REGARDS,
MR. ERIC BOWELL.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam