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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "foreign payment department" (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: "Mr David Obi" <davidobi1202@mobimail.mn>
Reply-To: david_obi_office@sify.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 16:55:03 -0700
Subject: Head Of Foreign Payment Department


Good Day,

I am Mr DAVID OBI,



Head of foreign payment department. I have beenmandated to inform you about
the recent development as in payment thismoney after our board meeting, your
case was mentioned and we haveagreed to pay you without any further delay so
I would required you todesist from any partner who may have been asking you
to pay fee's beforethe transfer can be made.


The Federal Government has mandated thepayment commission that all payment
that has been overdue and those owedby the government would be paid
unilaterally to the tune of $5m (FiveMillion U.S Dollars Only).Therefore
all we will pay you now is the US$5m and the rest afterwards.I would like
you to employ transparency and honesty in this regardsbecause aiding and
abetting will only keep your payment pending so I will like you to confirm
the following to avoid any mistake or wrongtransfer. The total fund
belonging to you etc, the requested informationis to ensure that no mistake
or error is made and it should beforwarded in the manner stated below:


1.Your Full Name:

Your Complete Address:

2.Direct Telephone Number:

3.Mobile Number:

4.Fax Number:

TREAT AS UTMOST URGENCY,

DAVID OBI
Head of Foreign Payment Department

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam