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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:
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • desow00@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Desmond Owen"<danthabo1@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: <desow00@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 11:46:57 +0100
Subject: STILL AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE TO MY MAIL

Compliments of the Day,
I want to make a proposal of business transaction value sum of GBP 15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million British Pounds Sterling) to you, of which I believe will be of much interest to you and also a mutual benefit for both of us.
I need your co-operation to transfer the above mentioned sum out of England to any part of the world. And I am confident that you will give your consideration to this proposal and response positively within a short period of time. I am available to discuss this proposal with you and to answer any questions you may have in regard to this fund.
As soon as you give your positive response to this proposal, I will not hesitate in sending you the details and procedures of the transaction. Alternatively, you can write me back with my private email address desow00@yahoo.com.hk.

Look forward to discussing this opportunity further with you in more detail shortly.

Sincerely,
Dr. Desmond Owen ,
Chartered Accountant
Alpha Banking Group Plc

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam