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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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.

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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:
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • sofididier@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Miss Sofi Didier" <sofi.didier@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: sofididier@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:52:57 +0100
Subject: Hello

Hello dear,

After several enquiries from the foreign trade office of
our Chambers of Commerce and Industry, I decided to contact you
directly.
Please, I need your guidelines and assistance in making some
business investments in your country within the next few weeks.
Kindly take out a moment of your very busy schedule today to reply
my email for more details and send me any list of viable
investments currently available in your country for my
consideration.Reply direct to my email (sofididier@yahoo.com)

Regards,
Miss Sofi Didier

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam