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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • desmond_carlson@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: desmondcarlson@afrikako.com
Reply-To: desmond_carlson@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:45:23 +0000
Subject: READ CAREFULLY

Dear Friend,


Complements of the season.I am Mr.Desmond Carlson, Head of Internal Audit
Banque Commercial bank, South Africa,working as part of a bigger team that
covers the entire South African region. An investor (name with-held) died
without naming any next of kin to his fund in my bank.The amount is $5.7M(Five
Million Seven hundred Thousand) and banking regulation/legislation in South
Africa demands that i should notify the fiscal authorities after three
years.The above set of facts underscores my reason to seek your permission to
have you stand in as the next of kin to the deceased.

This funds will be approved and released in your favour as the next of kin if
only you will adhere to my instruction and cooperate with me in one accord. I
have all the legal and banking details of the deceased client that will
facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds
and ultimately transfer of the $5.7M plus interest to any bank account
nominated by you.I am prepared to compensate you with a 35% share of the total
funds for your efforts.The final details will be given upon receipt an
affirmation of your desire to participate.

Please contact me immediately whether or not you are interested in this
proposal. If you are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign partner
to carry out this deal. But where you are interested, contact me immediately
on: desmond_carlson@hotmail.com

Thank you,

Mr.Desmond Carlson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam