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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
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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: <franciscole_52@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:27:13 +0000
Subject: HELLO



HI, Hello, how are you doing? my name is Francis Cole. I am from Wales, United Kingdom. I need your help as a beneficiary to claim some wealth left by my late father in a security company $36M (Thirty Six Million Dollars), I am willing to offer you $6M from the funds. If you are interested, write me back via my private e-mail address and I will give you more details. My e-mail is franciscole_52@yahoo.co.uk.Please, be assured that this transaction is 100% risk free. The major thing I require from you is absolute assurance that the money will be safe when transferred into your account. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated here. May God bless you and your family while waiting to hear from you soon. I wait for your reply. Thank you. Mr. Francis Cole.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam