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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +447031974042 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • wasimhausen@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "mohamed lucky" <luckymohamed@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:16:35 -0700
Subject: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Islamic_Relief_London_has_granted_you_=A35?= =?ISO-8859-1?Q?00,000.00_(Five_Hundred_Thousand_Pounds)?=


Dear Sir/Madam,

This is to notify you that you have been chosen by the board of trustees
Islamic Relief London as one of the final recipients to receive cash
donations for economic development, and poverty alleviation. In line with
its aims, and objectives, Islamic Relief London is giving out £500,000.00
(Five Hundred Thousand Pounds) to 80 international recipients worldwide.
Your email address was selected based on an internet random Selection
exercise to receive £500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Pounds).

To file for your claim, please contact Islamic Relief international office
claims department, for Qualification documentations, notarization,
legalization, and Processing.

Contact Person: Dr. Wasim hausen
TEL: Phone: +44-703-197-4042
Email: wasimhausen@yahoo.com
Endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (IRN-101-555, AMS-111-90) in
all your correspondence with Dr. Wasim hausen. Congratulations once again!

Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Gordon Brown
(For the co-ordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam