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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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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • williams_alex50@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: jimpeter2@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:00:21 +0200
Subject: Have you contacted my secretary



Dear friend,
Have you contacted my secretary like i told you to do ?.If
you have not contacted him yet just do it right away.Ask him to send you
the total sum of $1.5 million u s dollars in a bankdraft,which I kept
for your compensation. Contact him on this
email.(williams_alex50@yahoo.co.uk) his name is Mr Williams Alex God has
done it, i have finnal got that fund. Give him all the informations he
may needlike your full names, country were you want him to send the
money to,your direct phone numbers and other informations he might need

Regards,
Dr Jim Peter
Yours Faithfully

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam