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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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• 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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: adams abadi <dr.adams_013@msn.com>
Reply-To: <dr_adams@live.fr>
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:23:00 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS TRANSACTION



Reply me with this email...dr_adams@live.fr, Dear friend my name is Dr
ADAMS ABADI am the manager of auditing and accounting department Bank
of African,
I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of ($25. million
us dollars immediately to your account. upon your reply I will send
you full details on how the business will be executed,send me your
contact information.1.Age.(2)Residential adress(3)
occupation(4)private telephone.Waiting to hear from you soonest The
request of foreigner in this transaction is necessary because our late
customer was a foreigner and a Burkinabe cannot stand as next of kin
to a foreigner.
I have agreed that 40% of this money will be for you as foreigner
partner in respect to the provision of a foreign account.10% will be
set aside for expenses incurred during the business and 50% would be
for me, after which I shall visit your country for disbursement
according to the percentages indicated.
Yours Sincerely,
Yours faithfully,
DR ADAMS ABADI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam