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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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: GLOBAL SECURITY/FINANCE COMPANY <account_d@live.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:43:50 -0400
Subject: Urgent Response

 

My Good Friend,   Please do not be surprise to receive this mail.   My name is Dr.Tadd Daniels, I am Regional Director of GLOBAL SECURITY/FINANCE COMPANY in Gambia West Africa.   I write to share this confidential business transaction with you. We had a foreign client who deposited a huge sum of money (US$10 Million) with our Company. Eventually the client is dead and since the incidence, no body has come for the claim of this fund as the next of kin.   A situation I have monitored closely with my position as the regional director of this Company for many years. Now, having monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his death, and hence nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past years, I have removed the file to my private volt.   I hereby write to solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement has being concluded by me and I am only waiting for a foreigner to enable me move the fund to his account.   This does not have any risk attached to it as all the internal documentations will be handled by me. I therefore request you to confirm your interest by a return message and I will furnish you with details.   Your interest will be negotiable before we commence the operation. Your immediate respond to this mail, is highly anticipated. My best Regards, Dr.Tadd Daniels

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam