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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (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 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.
  • e-mail.oldsdavid@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "SUZAN GERARD" <suzan_gerard@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:28:22 +0700
Subject: YOUR ASSISTANCE

SIR/MADAM, YOUR HELP AND ASSISTANCE IS HIGHLY NEEDED IN MY LIFE. FOR SOME BODY TOOK ME TO GIVE ME A HELPING HAND THAT OUGHT TO CHANGE MY LIFE, I FOLLOWED HIM WITH CONFIDENCE NOT KNOWING HE MENT IT FOR EVIL.NOW THAT HE HAS TAKEN ME OUT OF MY COUNTRY WAS WHEN I REALISE WHAT HE WAS PLANING OVER MY LIFE. HE WAS DOING THIS THAT HE WANTS TO HELP MY POOR WRECHED FAMILY AND MY PARENTS ALOWED HIM TO GO WITH ME.NOW THAT I HAVE REALISE WHAT HE WAS ABOUT TO DO,I BEGAN TO RUN FOR MY DEAR LIFE,NOT KNOWING HE HAS TAKING ME AS FAR AS TO THAILAND.DEAR FRIEND, I AM USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SOLICITE FOR A HELP OF ANY KIND THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE MY JOURNEY BACK HOME.YOUR ASSISTANCE IS HIGHLY NEEDED IN MY LIFE OF ANY LEVEL YOU COULD. FOR I HAVE NO PHONE FOR CONTACT,BUT YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH ME THROUGH THIS MY E-MAIL.oldsdavid@gmail.com thanks for your assistance. YOURS SINCERELY DAVID OLDS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam