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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "web info" <webinfo@torba.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 03:53:38 -0700
Subject: FROM SHERYL.


Attention: Please!!!,

My name is Sheryl Newton, I work with a very established oil company here in
London, name of company withheld for security reason`s. My boss is in charge
of offshore remittance in this establishment. He asked me to seek your
assistance for a transfer of [GB £7M]SEVEN MILLION POUNDS STERLING] to your
account for further private investment.

This amount accrued from an over-invoiced contract awarded to a Chinese firm
for the construction of an Oil Drilling stations in Berkshire London in
2006 The original value of the contract was (GBP £14M) but we manipulated
the figure to read Twenty one Million pound sterling(£21M). The extra (£7M)
is what we want to transfer to your account for our own personal use and
investments.

Note that the nature of your job does not matter,All modalities to effect
the payment and subsequent transfer of this money have been worked out. This
transaction is 100% risk free but requires 100 percent confidentiality. This
is a golden opportunity, which must not be allowed to slip out of our hands
as a result of any careless acts and utterances. We chose you for this
transaction because we believe that good friends can be discovered and
businesses such as this cannot be realized without trust. You can be rest
assured that your security has been considered before you were contacted.

At the end of the deal you will be compensated with 24% of the total sum,
while the rest will be used in investments in a lucrative ventures in your
country. If you are interested in this deal, kindly get back to me with your
full details including your private telephone.

Thanks,

Sheryl Newton

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam