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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 pounds" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mr.williamstodd@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:44:46 GMT
Subject: RE




I am Todd Williams a staff of Natwest Bank plc London=2E I contacted you=
after a careful thought that you might be capable of handling this busi=
ness transaction=2C The sum of ( =A3 12=2C500=2C000=2E00 Million Pounds)=
=2Chas been floating asunclaimed since 2000 in my bank as all efforts to=
get across to the his relatives of our client who deposited the money h=
ave hit thestones=2E All attempts to trace his next of kin werefruitless=
=2E My position here at my office requires me to investigate and I there=
fore made further investigations and discovered that Mr=2E Andreas Schra=
nner did not declare any next of kin or relation in all his official doc=
uments=2C including his bank deposit paperwork in my bank=2EAccording to=
the British Law=2E The money will revert to the ownership of the Britis=
h government if nobody applies to claim the fund=2E Please If you are in=
terested send your response for more details=2E
Email=3A mr=2Ewilliamstodd=40gmail=2Ecom
Kind Regards =2C
Mr=2ETodd Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam