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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • stephen_force205@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "stephen force" <stephen_force@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: stephen_force205@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 18:39:42 -0500
Subject:

I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU
DO NOT KNOW ME.I AM MR Stephen Force, I WORK IN THE
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, PACKAGING AND COURIER
DEPARTMENT.

I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS PACKAGE THAT IS
ALREADY IN HOLLAND WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR CBN
ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF THE
PACKAGE IS $12,000,000.00 ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BUT
THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY
THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE .ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR
ME NOW IS THIS GIVE ME

YOUR MAILING ADDRESS YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX AND I
HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY , YOU WILL HAVE 30%
AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME .

MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANYBODY. IF THIS
ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU,YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT
stephen_force205@yahoo.co.uk, FOR SECURITY REASONS OTHER

MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK
TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES TO
YOU . NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLY THROUGH
E-MAIL FOR SECURITY REASONS.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR Stephen Force

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam