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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.

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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:
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Elvis Benefield <elvisben113@msn.com>
Reply-To: <benefieldelvis@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 16:33:22 +0000
Subject: Please read carefully and be honest to me...



Hello Friend,I want to drop you a quick note because I did not hear back from you concerning the information I sent you the other day. Incase you did not receive the letter introducing my Intent. I am Elvis Benefield from London .I am an account officer to Mr.Rafic Hariri,Born in Lebanon in 1944, The late Rafic Hariri was a Lebanese self-made billionaire and business tycoon, and was five times Prime Minister of Lebanon. I got your mail through my private search and out of Desperation I decided to reach you through this medium. Mr. Rafic Hariri deposited 36,759,000 million British Pounds in a bank here in London and I want to invest this money in your country, The need to move out this money arose when the Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that some of the money held in dormant accounts would be used to fund youth and community projects. you can confirm this in the website below. http://www.rhariri.com/general.aspx?pagecontent=biographyI am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regard. Now permit me to ask these few questions:- (1) Can I completely trust you? (2) I am ready to offer you 30% of this (£36 759 000.00) I hope it is acceptable by you? Please, consider this and get back to us as soon as possible for more details.Thank you so much.Mr. Elvis Benefield

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam