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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
  
  
• 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.

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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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "central bank of nigeria" (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 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.
  • +2348081311405 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • private_adams@yahoo.dk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Idioma Adams" <adams7k10@peru.com>
Reply-To: private_adams100@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 10:01:01 -0700
Subject: RE


*Attn: Dear Friend,*
**
*Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
ethics? Although I am skeptical to discuss the business on the internet
owing to lots of unsolicited/spam mails on the net this days, but it was
borne out of desperation and current development. Please bear with me.*
**
*I know these will come to you as a Surprise because you do not know me,My
name is Engr. Idioma Adams, I work in the Central Bank of Nigeria, Packaging
and Courier Department. I got your contact in my search for an honest person
through the international Chamber of commerce here in the central Bank.I
want you to help me clear this package/luggage that is already deposited in
a security Vaults (ABROAD) which I shipped through our Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) accredited courier agent but the contents of the package is
Fifteen Million United States Dollars Only ($15,000,000.00) all in $100.00
bills, but the courier company does not know that it is money that I have in
the package/Luggage with deposit identification code (1371).*
**
*All I want you to do for me now is this, give me your mailing address your
private phone and fax and I hope that at the end of the day, you will have
30% and 70% will be for me. My identity must not be revealed to anybody.*
**
*If this arrangement is accepted by you, you can contact me through my
private number +234-808-131-1405 and this Email:private_adams@yahoo.dk for
security reasons other modalities will be discussed as soon as you get back
to me including sending of the key to package/luggage to you to enable you
confirm the content of the luggage/package after claim.*
**
*Yours faithfully,*
*Mr. Idioma Adams.*
*Courier/Packaging Department*
*Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam