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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:
  • ",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)
  • "% will be for you" (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)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • jamesbriggs1955@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: JAMES BRIGGS FOR HOTEL <jamesbriggs1955@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: jamesbriggs2000@yahoo.it
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:06:44 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM JAMES BRIGGS FOR HOTEL INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: jamesbriggs1955@yahoo.com



- James Briggs, an Executive Member of the Audit andCompensation Committee of ExxonMobil NIGERIA I have a sensitive and private brief from the Senior Executives of this top oil company I am aboutto retire from my job as Executive Member of the Audit and Compensation Committee of ExxonMobil in Nigeria before the the end of the year 2009.I write to inform you of my intentionto invest in a Hotel or any other business in your country and to request to you to assists me in carrying out the feasibility studies on location, type and estimation on how much it will cost to establish a three star hotel, either by outright purchase, or already existing but dilapidated one and renovate or setting up a new one entirely.If you sincerely carry out this survey, and give me a feedback as early as possible, I will give you the power of attorney to build & manage the hotel on my behalf, Pending my retirement nextyear.Ihave(US$12,000,000.00)that I deposited this in a Finance company outside the country for this project, AND 30% WILL BE FOR YOU WHILE 70% WILL BE FOR ME WHICH YOU WILL TO START THE HOTLE PROJECT ON MY BEHALF.I ampresently down with sickness as a result of my old age but I have been assured by my doctor that I will be fine and come back to work soon. Please do let me know if you are capable of handling all these.I will be expecting your reply as soon as possible.ThanksJames Briggs

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam