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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.

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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • bernawhans@pisem.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: bernerhans@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:19:28 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Hope=20All=20Is=20Well?=

Good day,


I know this proposal will come to you as a surprise especially when you
do not know the writer, considering the huge sum of money involved which
could make any apprehensive. Let me start by introducing myself to you.
I am Bernd Hans-Werner,the head of accounting department of a Finance house,
where I presently work here in Holland . I saw your contact during my private
search at the information centre want to believe that you will be very honest,
committed and capable of assisting in this business venture.

It is based on this that I am contacting you to stand as the next-of-kin
a late client of the Finance House so that the total sum of $5million (Five
million dollars) will be released and paid to you as the beneficiary and
the next-of-kin to the deceased. All documents, and proof to enable you
get the funds have been carefully worked out as we have secured from the
different offices concerned for the smooth transfer of the fund to your
nominated account.You can contact me through the email bernawhans@pisem.net
for further details.

If this proposal satisfies you, please respond to me with the following
information.

-FULL NAME
-TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER
-ADDRESS
I await your urgent response, all the best and God bless you.

Sincerely,

Bernd Hans-Werner

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam