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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:
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • r_picot@walla.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <russell.privatebox@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 04:43:46 +0000
Subject: Transfer Of Funds.



From Russell Picot.P O Box 10720217 Strand London WC2R 1AP My Request. I have a very important request that make me to contact you, I am RussellPicot, I found your profile very interesting and decided to reach you directlyto solicit your assistance and guidelines in making a business investment andtransfer of £12.5M GBP (Twelve Million Five Hundred thousand poundsSterling) to your country within the next few days. I presently work as a Chief Auditor, Offshore Mortgage & Services withNatwest Bank Plc, London Branch. But at this moment, I am constrained to issuemore details about this profitable business investment until I get your responseby mail. Please take out a moment of your very busy schedule today to respondback if you are interested, please send your direct telephone numbers throughthis email (r_picot@walla.com) for an initial confidential communication. I wishfor utmost confidentiality in handling this transaction. Awaiting your reply, Russell Picot.Chief Auditor.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam