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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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • rev.mark_mensah@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rev.Mark Mensah" <rev.mark_mensah@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: rev.markm@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 13:58:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed Please


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

Urgent Reply Needed Please

- Dear Sir/Madam, I’m an Executor of the Late Bishop Benson Idahoan’s multI-million dollars Will to the public before his death some years ago. The Willed amount of money was stipulated to be given to some humanitarian centres,unpriviledged and individuals who have shown their will for the propagation of God's work all over the world. As an executor of the Will, I have made money available to those selected, but there is a surplus sum of Five million, five hundred thousand United States dollars (US$5,500.000.00) left over. But no one is yet aware of this remainder which is the reasons I want you to receive the remainder now as one of the beneficiaries, so that I and you will share the funds in equal part. If you are interested, get back to me with your contact information so that I will forward your name to the fiduciary institution as the beneficiary to the left over. Remain Blessed, Rev.Mark Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam