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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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.
  • marthinmark@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mark marthin" <drmarthins03@mailbox.hu>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 12:19:57 +0530
Subject: VERY URGENT


*Dear Friend.*
*My name is Dr Marthins Mark and I am employed in the Bank of London.*
*My job entails dealing on behalf of clients with packaging and courier
services in my department. After going through your profile and doing a
little research, I have seen that you seem like an honest and trustworthy
person who can handle confidential business with me.*
*What I am about to disclose to you is highly confidential and I trust that
you will keep my confidence. A sum of US$10M (Ten Million Dollars) was
supposed to be moved from my bank to a certain client through a courier
services company. After doing all the processes to move the funds the
package containing the money was returned to me a couple of times, reason
being the recipient did not turn up to receive or claim it. I have kept this
money deposited with a security Company here in London under my close
monitoring for a very long time now and this issue has been bothering a lot.
The reason for contacting you is; I have decided to retire and rese ttle in
your country and now want the money to be moved out of London to your
country, where you will receive it and keep it safe for me until I come over
to meet with you there. I need a business partner and friend who will advise
me on proper investments in your country and how I can live comfortably.
What I need is someone trustworthy to receive the money for me and I think
you might fit that profile. I have made all the arrangements and plans to
enable me to move the money from London to a country of my choice without
hindrance. For your assistance and help in receiving and investing the
money, you will benefit a reasonable part of the total money. Please reply
this message as soon as you read it to let me know your mind on this
proposition. If I am convinced that you are totally willing to cooperate
with me on this assignment; I will give you the details, and I would
appreciate it very much if you give me yours including your phone number
where I can reach you. Once again, I would appreciate your regard of this
matter as highly confidential. *
*You can contact me with this email address, *
*marthinmark@yahoo.com* <marthinmark@yahoo.com>
* Best regards,*
**
* Dr Marthins Mark.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam