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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:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • wr.howell@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: whowell@london.com
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:14:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: LETTER OF PARTNERSHIP


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: wr.howell@yahoo.com



- Hello,I'm William R. Howell, an Executive Member of the Audit and Compensation Committee of ExxonMobil in London ( http://www.exxonmobil.co.uk). I have a sensitive and private brief from the Senior Executives of this top oil company in need of your partnership to re-profile funds amounting to US$12.2M (Twelve Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).I will let you have the details but in summary, the fund shall be paid to you through our operating bank where it is presently deposited as soon as the legalization and documentation process is concluded in your name. This is a legitimate transaction without government interference and you shall be compensated with 20% of the total sum, should you and your company agree to work with us. If you are interested, please reply urgently. Warmest Regards,William R. Howell.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam