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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Isaac Bright" <office_dept05@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 07:11:17 -0800
Subject: western union!!

Dear,
My name is Isaac Bright. I am a dormant account manager at
Western Union in the International Commercial Bank Achimota-Ghana.
While I was browsing through some of accounts that are on hold in our
database, I noticed an account with a name and email address as
yours()french nationality. This account has a pending $286,000.00 transfer that has never been picked up the customer for three years.
Here is my proposition: I release the funds to your name. You will
receive the $286,000.00 if you promise to send me $286,000.00 of those
funds via Western Union after you receive the sum of $286,000.00.
After I receive the following items, I can release the funds back to
you to make them available once more:
1. A valid ID card number or License in your name scanned for the
transfer.
2. A letter sent to me via email that states you will indeed send me
$186,000.00 after you take your share of the $100,000.00
3. A phone call. Call me as soon as you receive this email.
This is a very easy transaction that Western Union will never be aware
of. If this email was sent to you by mistake, I am very sorry. Your
name was in my Email box, so I thought this had to be you.
This is my private email address, so there is no chance that Western
Union will find our conversations. isaacbright@fsmail.net
When you call my personal phone, please say the below password so I
know it is you on the line. No password, no conversation.
Password: 'Western Union is easiest and fastest way to send funds to
anyone'Reply quick due to mix up in email addresses.your code is F-61.
Call me ASAP
Isaac Bright
Private Email:isaacbright@fsmail.net
drisaacbright@yahoo.co.in
Private Tel +233 244 507 193
NB:YOU WILL ASSURE ME THAT YOU WILL BE CONTACTING THE ATTORNEY WHO WILL
OBTAIN APPROVAL DOCUMENTS FOR YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY TO THE FUND AS I
CANNOT BE CONNECTEDDIRECTLY DUE TO MY POSITION AS A BANKER.ONCE
AGREED,THEN REPLY AS WE HAVE SEVEN WORKING DAYS TO EFFECT THE TRANSFER.ALSO YOU GIVE NAMES FOR RECEIVING THE WESTERN UNION OR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam