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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
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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.

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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:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Fredo Lopez <brigvalnorman3@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: tonyibru@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:06:44 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Your payment

We were instructed by the UNITED NATIONS to process the part payment of your fund SIXTEEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$16,800,000.00M) only through the ATM VISA CARD.
Therefore, you are advised to immediately send your full names, address, telephone number and a scanned copy of your International passport or Driver's license to this Bank (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria - First Bank of Spain) (BBVA), to enable the ATM Department load your fund into the ATM VISA CARD as directed by the United Nations.
We wait to receive the requested information as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully,
Fredo Lopez

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam