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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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • westbernard88888@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. West" <west000.11@msn.com>
Reply-To: <westbernard8888@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 00:50:17 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY/YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED



Mr.West Bernard.SA Post OfficeP.O. Box 10 000PRETORIA0083 SOUTH AFRICA.
{MONEY TRANSACTION} {THIRTY SIX MILLION USD} (RE:TRANSFER OF($36,000,000.USD)
Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Mr.West Bernard, and I work in the International operation department in a Local Bank here in South Africa On a routine inspection,I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL Of36,000,000 (Thirty Six Million USD) on further discreet investigation I also discovered that the account holder has long since passed away(dead)leaving no beneficiary to the account the bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the former operator of the a/c is a foreigner and from Iraq in particular and I am certainly sure that he is dead and nobody will come again for the claim of this money it is only a foreigner that can claim this money with propear information. I need your cooperation to clear this money from the bank.

I will provide the necessary information needed in order to claim this money, But you will need to open an account where this can be transferred.If you are interested send me your private Telephone No And Fax number including the full details of the account to be used for the Deposit.Utmost confidentiality is needed in handling this transaction as my job and the future of my family would be jeopardized if it were breached.

The information required is as below:
Bank Name Address--------A/C Name..........................A/C Number Even an empty a/c is still ok!------------------Swift Code No.....................Your age??

I am assuring you that the transaction is risk free hence we are going to follow the normal transfer process .Finally a 40% of the total fund will be given to you for your steadfast corporation.I look forward for a positive response as quickly as possible. E-Mial:(westbernard88888@gmail.com)

Best Regards,Mr.West Bernard.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam