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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• 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:
  • "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +447031904791 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • david_citibank@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: qeeff@mchsi.com (Dr. David)
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:17:34 +0000
Subject: ur help

I am Dr David Pui, a staff of CITI BANK PLC,UK .I am seeking your
assistance in a legitimate business transaction running into $2.5
million USD. For further details as to the work ability of this transaction.
Please write back by on my personal email: david_citibank@yahoo.com
And provide me with your name, sex, age, occupation, confidential
telephone number, fax number , country, email address, and home address
and I will provide further details and instructions.Please keep this
confidential; We can't afford more political problems.I shall however leave out
the final details of this
transaction till I receive an affirmation of your desire to participate.
This is my secretary's ( Mrs. Adams Brigite ) telephone number +44 703 190
4791. She will be waiting for your call.

Please do not overlook this email.

Sincerely,
Dr. David Pui

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam