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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:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • gapexdelivery1@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: =?big5?q?Apex=20Service=20Delivery?= <apexdelivery1@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: apexdelivery@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:29:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATM card number: 3774 2856 7847 9006


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gapexdelivery1@yahoo.com.hk



- This is to officially inform you that ATM card number: 3774 2856 7847 9006 Worth Three Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$3.7Million has been credited in your favor. You are only required to apply for a WAIVER FEE CERTIFICATE which will bypass all other administration, custom Charges etc; for easy delivery of your Atm Debit Card. This Waiver Fee Certificate cost $172 only. Immediately we confirm your Payment, we will dispatch your said ATM DEBIT CARD to your address including all the relevant documents to back up your Claim and your Pin Number. Re-confirm Full Name................ Delivery Address......... Phone Number............. Fax Number............... We will be waiting for your urgent response to enable us dispatch your ATM DEBIT CARD. Mr. Frank Gary (Management).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam