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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348069255616 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Richard Ward <rewardsacct@msn.com>
Reply-To: <chinnachi76@yahoo.it>
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:59:24 -0500
Subject: DEAR GOOD FRIEND



FROM:MR.ERNEST CHINNACHI,HEAD OF ARCHIVES /RECONCILIATIONFIDELITY BANK PLC.VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS. RE: NEXT OF KINGOOD DAY, DO NOT BE SURPRISED AT RECEIVING THIS MAIL.I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO HARM IN TRYING SOMEONE TRUSTWORTHY AT HEART.A NEW RELATIONSHIP WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELP ME. I NEED YOU TO COME AND STAND AS 'NEXT OF KIN' TO A CLIENT LATE MR.PHILIP L.MCDOW WHO DIED OF A HEART CONDITION HERE IN LAGOS.SOME YEARS AGO,MR.MCDOW MADE A NUMBERED(OR FIXED)DEPOSIT OF US$18,000,000.00 MILLION IN MY BANK. UNFORTUNATELY,HE DID NOT MENTION A NEXT OF KIN IN ANY OF HIS PAPERS WITH US OR HE IS A CONTRACTORS - TEXACO OIL.SINCE THEN,THERE HAVE BEEN NO RESPONCE TO OUR INTERNATIONAL ADVERTORIALS CALLING FOR ANY RELATIVE TO CONTACT US. MY DEPARTMENT HAS THE MANDATE TO OVERSEE THE INTERNAL CLEARANCE FOR CLAIMS SUCH AS THIS AND THE FINAL APPROVAL SIGNATURE FOR PAYMENT IS MINE.YOU HAVE NO RISK.BY LAW,YOU ONLY NEED TO SHOW-UP ONCE BEFORE THE MONEY WILL BE PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT ABROAD. HOWEVER,PLEASE KNOW THAT THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED BETWEEN US;I WILL TAKE 50% AND YOU:45% WHILE 5% FOR THE EXPENSE WE MIGHT HAVE INCURE DURING THE PROCESS OF RANSFER.THERE ARE REASONS WHY WE NEED TO CLAIM THIS MONEY FAST.I WILL GIVE YOU MORE COMPREHENSIVE DETAIL WHEN YOU REPLY. THANK YOU, MR.ERNEST CHINNACHI.TEl;+234 - 8069255616.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam