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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
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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.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • mrsmith166@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mith mrs" <mithmrs9@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:38:13 +0800
Subject: GOOD DAY DEAR....


Dear Sir/Madam,



I am writing you from Cotonou, republic of Benin. I work in a bank here and
there is a sum of $7.5M floating in a dormant account that belongs to one of
our late customer who died alongside with his younger brother in the crash
of December, 2003.

www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/


I will like this money to be transfered into your account as the next of
"KIN" of the deceased customer because the money will automatically go into
government treasury at the end of this year if the money still remeans here.
Reply this mail while I furnish you on how this will work out.



Reply me here please.

Email: mrsmith166@yahoo.com.hk<http://us.f431.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mrsmith166@yahoo.com.hk>



Yours faithfully,
Mr. Smith Damida

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam