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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.

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:
  • "please indicate your willingness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
• 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.
  • mrjohnsonsmith@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "johnson smith" <johnsonsmith1@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:56:36 +0100
Subject: YOUR TRANSFER


FROM: MR. JOHNSON SMITH
PRIVATE TELEPHONE;+234803029253
PRIVATE EMAIL: (mrjohnsonsmith@rocketmail.com)


Attn: Sir/ Madam,

This message might meet you in utmost surprise. However, it's just my urgent
need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction. I
got your contact from yahoo tourist search while I was searching for a
foreign partner. I assured of your capability and reliability to champion
this business opportunity when I prayed to God or Allah about you.

I am a banker by profession in NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA and currently holding
the post of assistant foreign remittance director in our bank. I have the
opportunity of transferring the left over funds ($22. 5 Million Dollars)
belong to Mr. ANDREW KIM FROM TAIWAN who died along with his entire family
in the BENIN plane crash 2004

Hence; I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared
between us in the ratio of 50/50 if you agree to my business proposal.
Further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as I
receive your return mail immediately as soon as you receive this letter.

Please indicate your willingness by sending the below information for more
clarification and easy communication.

(1) YOUR FULL NAME
(2) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
(3) YOUR TEL AND FAX NUMBER

Trusting to hear from you immediately.

Thanks & Best Regards,
MR JOHNSON SMITH.
FROM: MR JOHNSON SMITH, PRIVATE TELEPHONE;+234803029253
PRIVATE EMAIL: (mrjohnsonsmith@rocketmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam