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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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "central bank of nigeria" (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.
  • 2347031622282
• 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.
  • dire_francis5555@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Francis Johnson" <dire_francis5555@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: francisjohnson004@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:55:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOOD DAY, VERY URGENT LETTER


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: dire_francis5555@yahoo.com

FROM THE DESK OF MR. FRANCIS JOHNSON

PACKAGING/COURIER OFFICE

PHONE:234-7031622282

GOOD DAY,

- I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME I AM MR FRANCIS JOHNSON FORMERLY WORKING IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA,PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT, I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH THE INTERNET WHILE I WAS SEARCHING FOR A GOOD PERSON FOR THIS MUTUAL BUSINESS, I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN EUROPE WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR CBN ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE IS $22,000.00 ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS THIS; GIVE ME YOUR MAILING HOME ADDRESS YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX. AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WILL HAVE 30% AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME .MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANYBODY,FOR SECURITY REASONS OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES TO YOU,NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRI!
CTLY THROUGH TELEPHONE AND E-MAIL FOR SECURITY REASONS,YOURS FAITHFULLY, MR FRANCIS JOHNSON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam