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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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: <divadalexander@fastmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:38:26 +0000
Subject: Notice From HSBC Bank London





HSBC
16 King Street,
Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8JF, United Kingdom Attn: Sir, Sequel to the secretive arrangement in regards of the Shipment of your contract / Inheritance Fund, part payment of Fifteen Million United States Dollars (US$15,000,000.00), I wish to inform you that all necessary modalities have been automatically concluded and have left HSBC BANK Office to the Commonwealth Courier Services today by Express Cargo Flight. Note carefully the content of the crate is "MONEY" but I did not disclose it to the Courier Services as Money, rather I informed them that the crate contain Vital "DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS" belonging to my client (That's you). Furthermore, the weight of the consignment is 36kg On No account should you disclose the content of the Crate with the Courier Services for fear of Betrayal so do not allow them to know that the Content is money. In the meantime, contact the Courier Services as soon as you receive this E-mail via their email address: commonwealthcouriers@live.com For you to know the actual situation with the consignment and also give them your address where the consignment will be delivered and then get back to me as soon as possible through my private email: divadalexander@fastmail.co.uk So that I can give you the key code number of the consignment. Congratulations and remain blessed. Best Regards, Mr. David Alexander.divadalexander@fastmail.co.ukTREASURY DIRECTOR, HSBC BANK LONDON.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam