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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:
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993869729 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:49:17 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEWS



Dearest Friend,

Compliments of the season and God's blessings from Barrister.John Bello=C2=
=A0I am the Barrister who contacted you long ago, I am very happy to info=
rm you about my success in getting that fund transferred, Now I want you =
to contact my secretary on the information below.

NAME:=C2=A0 Mr Frank Uba
EMAIL:=C2=A0frankuba1@live.com=20
PHONE: +229-9386-9729

Call him immediately with His above direct phone.Ask him to send you the =
total sum of (800,000.00) Eight Hundred and Thousand usd Cashier's Cheque=
, which I kept for your compensation contact my secretary on this Email: =
frankuba1@live.com=20

Yours faithfully.
BARRISTER JOHN BELLO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam