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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "million united state 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)
  • ",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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447011138824 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • m5ellis@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Mike Ellis <mi.el2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mm55ee55@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:14:21 +0000
Subject: HBOS United Kingdom (Legitimate Offer) Call +44



From: Mike EllisGroup Finance Director,Treasury & Insight.HBOS United Kingdom.+(44)70111-38824Good day,I am Mr. Mike Ellis, the Group Finance Director, Treasury & Insight HBOS United Kingdom. I personally discovered a dormant account with a total sum of $75,000,000.00 [SEVENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS] during our Bank's Annual Year Account Auditing.The owner of this dormant account died on 4th Jan 2002. Since the death of the deceased, nobody has operated in this account till date. Moreover, this account has NO BENEFICIARY attached to it. Definitely, this fund will be confiscated by our BANKING CODE OF ETHICS if it remains dormant for a period of [7] years without any claims. In this regard, I earnestly need your full cooperation in transferring this dormant fund out of our bank to avoid confiscating this fund. I will split the transfer into two 2 stages for easy and smooth transfer of the fund to your foreign a/c.First, I will transfer $5,000,000.00 USD to any valid foreign account you will nominate, upon a successful transfer without any disappointment from your side; I will fly to meet you in your home destination for sharing, thereafter we jointly transfer the remaining balance of $70,000,000.00 USD for big investments.If you are willing to cooperate in this project, Call me 004470-111-38824 for more details. Send Reply to my private mailbox: M5ellis@yahoo.com OR M5ellis@hotmail.comYours truly,Mr. Mike Ellis

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam