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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • klvngrant01@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Kelvin Grant" <klvngrant01@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:37:19 +0200
Subject: (No subject header)

THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a
beneficiary to
the total sum of £8,600,000.00GBP (Eight million Six
hundred thousand
britishpounds) in the codicil and last testament of the
deceased.(Name
now withheld since this is our second letter to you).We
contacted you
because you bear the surname identity and therefore can
present you as the
beneficiary to the inheritance.

We therefore reckoned that you can receive these funds as
you are
qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will
be processed
in your acceptance.

In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly
forward to
us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone and fax
numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary
documents at our high court probate division for the release
of this sum of money.

If per adventure, you deem it fit to be part of this great
promising
venture, please indicate your interest via my personal email
address:
klvngrant01@hotmail.com

Yours faithfully,
Kelvin Grant.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam