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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • tamway@freeuk.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Charles Tam <tamway@tiscali.it>
Reply-To: tamway@freeuk.com
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:31:00 -0800
Subject: Servetrust


>From the Desk of:Mr.Charles A.Tam,
Alfonso XII, 18, 4 Dcha
28014 Madrid,Spain
Attn:President/CEO ,
Urgent and Confidential:
Re: Transfer of ($6,400.000.00) Six Million Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars.
We want to transfer to abroad ($6,400.000.00 USD). Six Million Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars from a Security Company, Servetrust Finance Inc., Madrid, Spain. I want to quietly look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable and fit to provide either an existing bank account or set up a new bank account immediately to receive this money, even an empty account can serve as long as you will remain honest to me till the end of this important business transaction. I want to believe that you will never let me down either now or in the future.
I am Charles A. Tam the auditor general, Servetrust and Finance Inc., Madrid, Spain. During the course of our auditing, I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the security company in 1999 and since 2001 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that the owner of the account died without a (HEIR), hence the money has been floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing. The owner of this account was Mr. Manfred Schichegger, a foreigner, and an industrialist, he died since 2001 and no other person knows about this account or anything concerning it. The account has no beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that Manfred Schichegger until his death was the Managing Director, Dobrava Mbh $ Co.
We will start the first transfer with Four million united states dollars ($4,000.000.00), upon successful transfer without any disappointment from your side, we shall re-apply for the transfer of the remaining Two million four hundred thousand united states dollars ($2,400.000.00) into your account bringing the total sum Six million four hundred thousand united states dollars ($6,400.000.00). I am contacting you as a foreigner because this money can only be approved to a foreigner with a valid international passport, driver’s license and foreign account because the money is in US dollars and the former owner of the account Mr. Manfred Schichegger is a foreigner. I will like us to sign a binding agreement that will bind us together in the business, I am revealing all these to you with belief that you will never let me down in this business, you are the first and the only person I am contacting for the business so please reply urgently for me to tell you the next step to take.
You should forward your telephone and fax numbers and your bank account details that will be used in transferring the money. You will have to give me the assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing and disbursement of the fund.
I look forward to your earliest response through my alternative email: tamway@freeuk.com
Best regards,
Charles A. Tam.
tamway@freeuk.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam