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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.

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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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN DICKSON" <john_dickson1@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: john_dickson02@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:44:38 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY

Good day, dear friend.

May I introduce myself to you. I am John Dickson, a Lawyer by profession and based in the Dakar Senegal. I humbly seek your consent for a transaction that will be of mutual benefit.

Briefly about the transaction: I have a client who inherited an amount of Twenty Million, five hundred Thousand United State Dollars (20.5M$) from his late father. Now for obvious reasonS which I tell you later, my client now needs help from a neutral but trusted person (which I presume you are) to safeguard the money for subsequent investment purpose. I know you will wonder about it but don't worry, when I give you full details, you will understand better.

For your anticipated help, you will be compensated with 20% and also we hope to establish a lasting business relationship with you thereafter which you will as well be entitled to periodical compensation as we shall agree upon.

It may interest you to note that the proposed transaction is legally backed up and very easy, so with your maximum co-operation I assure you that we shall conclude it within two weeks.
Please do confirm your interest and immediately I will give you the full details. You are at liberty to contact me by email and phone number as below stated anytime. You should aslo include your phone number as you reply.

On behalf of my client, thanks and God bless as I look forward to your kind consideration.

Yours faithfully,

John Dickson Esq

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam