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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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• What can you do when you receive 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "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)
  • "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • sg.lile2119@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <sg.lile2119@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:13:58 -0600
Subject: Hello ( Please Respond )


Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Song Lile, I am the credit officer in Hang Seng Bank, Hong
Kong. I have a business proposal in the tune of $19.5m to be transferred
to an offshore account with your assistance.

After the successful transfer, we shall share in ratio of 30% for you and
70%
for me. Should you be interested, please respond to my letter immediately,
so we can commence all arrangements and I will give you more information on
the project and how we would handle it. Please treat this business with
utmost
confidentiality.

You can contact me on my private email: sg.lile2119@yahoo.com.hk, with the
following informations for record purpose:

Full names
private phone number
current residential address
Occupation
Age and Sex

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Song Lile.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam