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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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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "waiting for 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.
  • dniswayas@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Denis Wayas" <dniswayas@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: dniswayas@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 07:26:12 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE

Dear Sir/Madam,CEO
I pray that this mail gets to you not as a surprise, but in sound
mental,spiritual and physical health. I got your address from a small E-mail
Directory in the Ministry of External Affairs.

I have a client who wants to invest in your country and with
US$15.735M. My client is a General in the Nigerian army and he needs
protection for his family. The reason to invest in your country is to
dissociate himself from government blanket allegation that top military
officers are in the habit of giving financial support to people against
government policies.

If you can handle such a huge sum of investment that requires honesty
and transparency please get back to me as soon aspossible so that I will
give you the detailed information, for example the investment plan and
agreement procedure. I am waiting for your urgent response.
Thank you,
Dr. Denis Wayas
Send reply to :dniswayas@yahoo.com
Tel:234 803 712 1343

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam