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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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• 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.

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:
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • ben_wilson_5@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. BEN WILSON" <b.wilson@rya-online.net>
Reply-To: ben_wilson_5@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 18:12:47 GMT
Subject: FROM MR. BEN WILSON

FROM MR. BEN WILSON
P O Box 10720
217 Strand
London WC2R 1AP

My Request.
I Have a very important request that make me to contact you;
I am MR. BEN WILSON, I found Your profile very interesting
and decided to reach you directly to solicit your assistance
and Guidelines in making a business investment and transfer
of £12.5M GBP (Twelve Million Five Hundred thousand pounds
Sterling) to your country within the Next few days.

I presently work as a Chief Auditor, Offshore Mortgage &
Services with Natwest Bank Plc, London. But at this moment,
I am constrained to issue more details about this profitable
Business investment until I get your response by mail.
Please take out a moment of your very busy Schedule today to
respond back if you are interested; please send your direct
telephone numbers through this email
(ben_wilson_5@yahoo.co.uk) for an initial confidential
communication. I wish for utmost confidentiality in handling
this transaction.

Awaiting your reply,
Mr BEN WILSON

Chief Auditor

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam