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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:
  • "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <hen.williams@rocketmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:53:38 +0000
Subject: Partnership Acquisition



Hello:I am arranging to come over to your country with some large sum of money for an investment. I will be flying in few weeks time. However, I do not know any investor in your country who I may trust to handle the business for me as I am a foreigner. Secondly, I am afraid of bringing in a large amount of money to your country. Could you please indicate your interest to work with me for this purpose? I will be sending you my flight schedule as soon as I confirm my ticket. I am in need of your response to this arrangement to enable me find out the situation regarding the amount someone can bring into your country, and also to arrange the necessary documents for this funds.
I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax mail and I urge you to treat it very serious.There is no risk attached and the funds in question can never be traced or marked as money laundering.
Please get back to me as soon as possible. Regards,Mr.Henry Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam