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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• 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.
  • +447035913217 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Issa Ahmed" <ahmed16@tulsaemail.com>
Reply-To: desmond_green_2008@live.com
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:07:17 -0700
Subject: Dear Winner


Dear Winner,


We Apologies, for the delay of your payment and all the Inconveniences and
Inflict that we might have indulge you through.


However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which
is Inexplicable, and have held us stranded and Indolent, not having the
Aspiration to devote our 100% Assiduity in accrediting foreign payments.We
apologies once again from the Records of outstanding winners due for payment
with {ONLINE CYBER PROMOTION}your name and particular was discovered as next
in the list of the outstanding winners who have not yet received their
payments.Emails were selected anonymously through a computer ballot system
from over 35,000 companies and 70,000 individual e-mail addresses all over
the world and your e-mail address emerged as the winner of the 11 selected
email address. It is promoted and sponsored by Orient software corporation
(Orient Networks) in collaboration with the Online Cyber International.


I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square whole and can
be voguish for that your payment is being processed and will be released to
you as soon as you respond to this letter.Also note that from our record in
our file, your outstanding winning payment is US$950.215.00 (NINE HUNDRED
AND FIFTY THOUSAND,TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN DOLLARS).Payment will be made to
you in a certified bank draft or wire transfer into a nominated bank account
of your choice, as soon as you get in touched with.


Name: Mr.Desmond Green
E-mail: desmond_green_2008@live.com
Tel: +447035913217


Provide him with the following details, as this will enable him to process
and release of your cash prize without any delay.


Your Full Name:..................................
Telephone and fax Numbers:.........................
Residential Address:...............................


Your urgent reply Mr.Desmond Green
write via e-mail: desmond_green_2008@live.com

will effect the speedy release of your cash prize to you within
48hours.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr.Issa Ahmed
Vice President.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam