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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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • patrickkwchan30@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 22:36:27 -0500
Subject: Please contact me via email ( patrickkwchan30@hotmail.com )!!!!




Good Day,
I am Mr Patrick Chan the senior branch Manager of Hangseng Bank Hong Kong.I am contacting you to assist in the claim of some outstanding fund which was left by one of my very good client Christian Eich who died in a AF4590 plane crash.I have contacted you to assist me act his next of kin. The amount involved is USD 15 million (Fifteen million United States Dollars) which is the account balance.You can view the website for more details on the full incident how it occured.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
I look forward to hearing from you with your full name and address and contact phone number asap. You are to contact me via my most confidential email : patrickkwchan30@hotmail.com

Yours faithfully,
Mr Patrick Chan.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam