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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.

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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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348032290065 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • fundtransfer.africanregion70@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "SMITH WALTERS"<worldbank@worldbank.org>
Reply-To: <fundtransfer.africanregion70@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:24:20 -0700
Subject: WORLD BANK DEPARTMENT CALL: +234-8032290065

FROM THE DESK OF MR.SMITH WALTERS
WORLD BANK DEPARTMENT PAY MASTER

Attn: Honourable Beneficiary,

This is to notify you that after we met today with The President, Accountant General of the Federation, Office of the Senate House, and House of Representatives of West Africa we came to a conclusion that we have to pay you the sum of $10.5m as your contract entitlement. The payment will come to you via ATM DEBIT CARD Delivery, therefore you are to rec-confirm the following;(1) Full Name (2) Address (3) Phone no#

Your immediate respond is urgently needed.

BEST REGARDS,

MR.SMITH WALTERS
PAY MASTER
EMAIL: fundtransfer.africanregion70@gmail.com
CALL: +234-8032290065

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam