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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: edgar_elrufai103 <wazzyedgar@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: IndeRing@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:48:41 +0200
Subject: [IndeRing] URGENT ATTENTION


FROM THE DESK OF MR EDGAR
THE AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING MANAGER,
BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A)
OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO.
MY GOOD FRIEND,

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT EXPOSE OR BETRAY THIS TRUST AND CONFIDENT THAT I AM
ABOUT TO IMPOSE ON YOU FOR THE MATUAL BENEFIT OF OUR FAMILIES.
I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IN TRANSFERRING THE SUM OF (USD$48.6 M)
MILLION TO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN 10 TO 17 BANKING DAYS.

THIS MONEY HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR YEARS IN OUR BANK WITHOUT ANY BODY CLAIMING
THE FUND.
I WANT THE BANK TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEAREST PERSON TO OUR
DECEASED CUSTOMER (THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT) BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN
CUSTOMER (MR. RICHARD BURSON) WHO DIED ALONGWITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON
NOVEMBER 1999 IN A PLANE CRASH.
IN SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT OF THE MONEY,WE AGREE THAT 30% OF THIS MONEY
WILL BE FOR YOU INRESPECT OF THE PROVISION YOU MADE BY STANDING IN THE CLAIM
AS NEXT OF KIN,10% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR EXPENSES INCURE DURING THE
TRASACTION ON TAXES THAT WILL ARISE AND 60%WOULD BE FOR ME AND MY
COLLEAGUES.

FOR MOREINFORMATIONS ABOUT THE CRASH YOU CAN VISIT THIS SITE:
HTTP://NEWS.BBC.CO.UK/2/HI/AMERICAS/502503.STM<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/HI/AMERICAS/502503.STM>
I DON'T WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO OUR BANK ACCOUNT AS AN ABANDONED FUND.
SO THIS IS THE REASON WHY I CONTACTED YOU SO THAT THE BANK CAN RELEASE THE
MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED CUSTOMER.
I WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROJECT WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
1. NAME IN FULL:................................
2. ADDRESS:......................................
3. NATIONALITY:...................................
4. AGE:.............................................
5. SEX..............................................
6. OCCUPATION:......................................
7. MARITAL STATUS:..................................
8. PHONE............................................
9. FAX:.............................................
BEST REGARD,
MR EDGAR

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam