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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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: paulwilliams_234@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:12:44 +0000
Subject: HELLO ,

HELLO ,
It is a pleasure meeting you at last for I have
waited for this golden moment.I am Paul Williams manager in one of
the prime bank in southafrica.Six months ago ,my late customer died in a
fatal accidentand was buried at the state
cemetry.My late customer (Sir Ross Wilson) has an account with a credit
balance of Ten million dollars
($10,000,000:00),which has been dormant for a very long time.
All efforts to contact the named beneficiary to late Sir wilson 's
estate,with the supplied information proved futile.My good friend ,am
contacting you because i want you to claim
this money with me. i have the necessary information and documents thatwould
enable us this claim.Please kindly
send me your urgent reply to enable me know which other step to take towards
the claim of this money.
Regards,
Paul Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam