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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
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• 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 pounds" (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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Thomas Winkler <tomwinkler28@msn.com>
Reply-To: <thomwinkler@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 06:27:39 +0000
Subject: Proposal from Thomas



Proposal from ThomasNatwest BankUnited Kingdom
Hello, I am an investment consultant working with Natwest Bank of England, at their offshore department London England. I will be happy to work this deal out with you if you have a corporate or personal Bank Account and if you are capable to keep TOP SECRET.I need strong Assurance that you will never let me down, if I transfer this money to your account. During one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant account with holding balance of 18,000.000.00 {Eighteen million Pounds only} this account has not been operated for the past years. As at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. If you are not familiar with my Bank profile, please take a moment of your very busy schedules to read about my Bank website; www.natwest.com and I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested, on replying send me the followings. YOUR NAME: YOUR BANK DETAILS TO RECIEVE IN COMING FUNDS:YOUR TEL NOS.: Thank you for your time and attention. Warmest regards, Mr. Thomas WinklerChief investment Consultant Natwest BankPiccadilly & New Bond Street 63 PiccadillyGB - London W1J 0AJUnited Kingdom

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam