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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million 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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +447045775820 (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.
  • mrs.rebecaford3@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Rebecca Ford" <reb0004@officedeskworld.com>
Reply-To: mrs.rebecaford3@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 02:23:53 +0100 (BST)
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY


Dear Friend,

After going through your profile I wish to do business with you. I got your reference from your country's chamber of commerce and I have this strong personal conviction that you can handle this transaction perfectly and without any problem.

My Name is Mrs. Rebecca Ford born in Westminster London, here in England. I work for CITIBANK Corporation London. I am writing you from my office that will be of an immense benefit to both of us. In my department, being the Chief Auditor (Units 3 & 5, Paternoster House, St Paul's Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AB), I discovered an abandoned sum of $21.3 million USA Dollars (TWENTY ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS.) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Late Mr. DENIS COOK is a foreigner.

The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of where you live; now our Bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that. I personally have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 2 years now.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin /Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $21.3 Million Dollars can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 50% to me and 40% to you. And while 10% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during the process of transferring in your favor. I have secured all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this claim we are making.


All I need is to fill in your names to the documents and legalize it in the court here to prove you as the legitimate beneficiary. I will apply for annual leave to get Ticket immediately I hear from you that you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account. All I require now is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us sees this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please, provide me the following: as we have 5 days to run it through, this is very URGENT PLEASE.

1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number
3. Your Contact Address.

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated and let
Truthfulness and confidentiality be our watch word.

Mrs. Rebecca Ford
PRIVATE E-MAIL: mrs.rebecaford3@yahoo.co.uk
MOBILE: +447045775820
TELEPHONE: +447045776433

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam