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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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • paymastergeneral.thehonourable@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: The Honourable Paymaster General <raymond_douglasx13@msn.com>
Reply-To: <paymastergeneral.thehonourable@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:51:03 +0000
Subject: Re:Release/Transfer Notice for your due Funds (US$10,500,000:00).



From: The Office of The Presidency, The Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN).Tel: Highly Confidential.Address: 16 Walter Carrington Str. Ikoyi Lagos-Nigeria.Head Quaters: ASO ROCK VILLA, ABUJA ANNEX OFFICE.From the Desk of Chief. Raymond P. Douglas GCON.Official Web Account: paymastergeneral.thehonourable@gmail.comOur Ref: FGN/OHG/OXD1/2009TELEX: FEDGOVNIG.PAYMENT FILE: FGN/BEN/09.Date: 21st/January/09. *****24HRS SERVICE***** ATTN: Dear Beneficiary, Re:Release/Transfer Notice for your due Funds (US$10,500,000:00).This letter will definitely be amazing to you because of its realistic value. Sorry for the inconveniences that was rendered to you in line with your Payment transaction with some Nigerian Officials some while ago.I know that this letter will hit you by surprise, my name is Chief. Raymond P.Douglas, the Honourable Paymaster General of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.Your Funds were returned to the Federal Government Treasury some while ago because you did not finalize your claim for it, through the right procedure. A week ago, the Presidency and The Federal Executive Council collectively agreed to release the sum of US$10,500,000 to you but to our surprise you sent down your representatives Mr. Tim Parker and Mr. Rowland Gulf to collect this Funds on your behalf, this morning.Since you sent your representatives to us, kindly give us the authority to transfer your Funds into their secret Account in the middle East .In receipt of this confidential Letter, you are required to respond immediately to (paymastergeneral.thehonourable@gmail.com) Officially Sealed,Chief. Raymond P. Douglas.The Honourable Paymaster General

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam