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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:
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "John Smith" <jgsmith002@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: johng_smith01@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:45:18 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION

FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION,

Dear Sir/Madam

RE: INQUIRY

We are conducting a standard process investigation on behalf of Barclays
Banks PLC, London, the international Banking conglomerate. This
investigation involves the circumstances surrounding investments made by a
client at Barclays Banks PLC, London.

The Barclays Bank's Private Banking client died intestate and nominated no
successor in title over the investments made with the bank. The essence of
this communication with you is to request for your assistance in providing
your personal datas that will enable us transfer the late client's fund out
from the bank to an account to be nominated by you.The reason for this is
that if the money is left with the bank unclaimed after sometime, it will be
declared as unclaimed bill by the bank.

You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with more
detailed information at this point.

Please respond to this mail as soon as possible to afford us the opportunity
to close this investigation.

Thank you for accommodating our inquiry.

Mr. John Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam