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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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.

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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • mailamutumartin@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mutu Martins <mutu.m8@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mailamutumartin@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:16:12 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL



DEAR FRIEND,

I AM CONTACTING YOU FOR YOU TO ASSIST ME IN INVESTMENT PROJECT OVER THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY. YOUR COUNTRY IS A GOOD ONE AND VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND HOLDS FANTASTIC INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOREIGNERS.

AFTER SEVERAL OFFICIAL ENQUIRIES I MADE FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE OF OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR KIND OF BUSINESS AND I URGENTLY NEEDS YOUR GUIDELINES AND ASSISTANCE TO INVEST €4,500,000.00 (Four million, five hundred thousand Euro) IN REAL ESTATES AND CONSTRUCTIONS BUSINESS IN YOUR COUNTRY.

KINDLY TAKE OUT A MOMENT OF YOUR VERY BUSY SCHEDULE TODAY TO REPLY TO MY PRIVATE LETTER FOR MORE DETAILS AND OUTLINE TO ME ANY OTHER PROFITABLE INVESTMENTS OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR MY CONSIDERATION.


MY PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS IS: mailamutumartin@sify.com

MR. MAILA MUTU MARTINS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam