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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • verificationdept_kerry@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: =?us-ascii?Q?MICROSOFT=20AWARD=20TEAM=20NOTIFICATION=202008?= <IvoPartl@seznam.cz>
Date: Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:37:35 +0100 (CET)
Subject: =?us-ascii?Q?Dear=20Sir=2FMadam?=

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is to inform you that you have emerged as one of the

winner of world wide promo held this quater,automatically makes

you a winner of the sum of 500,000.00 POUNDS STERLING.

All emaill address used was drawn from the world web, and yours

was choosen this quater.Provide the following details to our

Payment Officeras to enable fill your payment cheque.

Name:Mr Kerry Martins(PAYMENT OFFICER)

Email:verificationdept_kerry@hotmail.com

PAYMENT PROCESSING DETAILS
1.FULL NAMES:
2.ADDRESS:
3.SEX:
4.AGE:
5.MARITAL STATUS:
6.OCCUPATION:
7.TELEPHONE NUMBER:
8.COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE
9.NATIONALITY:

Sincerely,Tracy Hamiltion

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam