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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348030557189 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • johnrashweb@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: MR.JOHN RASH <johnrash@y7mail.com>
Date: 30 Jul 2008 21:15:17 +0200
Subject: Looking For A Good Friend

Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit


MR. JOHN RASH.
NNPC TOWERS
DELTA STATE
TEL: +234-803-0557-189
E-MAIL:johnrashweb@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Friend,

I am the Chairman of the Contract Award Committee, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, I am in search of an agent to assist us in the transfer of (US$30,M) THIRTY MILLION, UNITED STATES DOLLARS. And subsequent investment in properties in your country.

You will be required to:

(1) Assist in the transfer of the said sum
(2) Advise on lucrative areas for investment
(3) Assist us in purchase of properties.

Regard, you can also send me your private Telephone, Fax number and Email for
easy communication.

Best regards,
Mr. John Rash.
CHAIMAN CONTRACT AWORD COMMITTEE {CCAC}

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam