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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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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)
  • ",000,000" (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: "Mr. Ku Chung Kwong" <pbash@csusm.edu>
Reply-To: kchungkwong@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:20:14 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Ku Chung Kwong. I am the auditor general and computer
manager here in our bank.
I have only written to seek your indulgence and assistance. I wish to make
a transfer involving a sum amount of base 30,000,000.00 {thirty Million
B.Pounds Sterlings} of Late Ms. Carol White out of the bank, she died
since 1999, till now the account remain dormat/unclaimed. I am proposing
to make this transfer to a designated bank account of your choice. Thus,
for your indulgence and support, I propose an offer of 40% of the total
amount to be yours after the transfer has been successfully concluded.
Kindly reply me stating your interest, and I shall furnish you with
the details and necessary procedure with which to make the transfer
progress. I am anxiously awaiting your response through my confidential
email address:
More informations will be given to you in my next mail.

Regards,
Ku Chung Kwong.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam