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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
  
  
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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:
  • "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)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN MAX" <office_max568@max.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: john_max586@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 16:41:08 +0000
Subject: SECOND NOTICE

THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to
the total sum of £10,600,000.00GBP (Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand
British Pounds) in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. (Name
now withheld since this is our second letter to you). We contacted you
because you bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as
the beneficiary to the inheritance.

We therefore reckoned that you could receive these funds as you are
qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be processed in
your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you
kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone
and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary
documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum
of money.

Please contact me via my private email so that we can get this done
immediately.
Kind regards,
Mr John Max,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam