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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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: williams45@freenet.de
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:47:19 +0100
Subject: CONTACT MY PASTOR


DEAR FRIEND,
I AM BARRISTER WILLIAMS OLSON AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO
INFORM YOU ABOUTMY SUCCESS IN GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERED. NOW I WANT
YOU TO CONTACT MY PASTOR ON THE INFORMATION BELOW TO RECEIVE YOUR
COMPENSATION OF ($1.5MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY).
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL
HIM
CONTACT MY PASTOR. MR, UNANA.
TEL : 00 2299 7033870
EMAIL ADDRESS
: pastorunana@live.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. WILLIAMS OLSON.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam