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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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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:
  • "deadline" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "FRANK OWEN" <frankowen001@msn.com>
Reply-To: frankowen002@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 17:46:24 +0000
Subject: Reply:ASAP

Dear friend,

I am Owen Frank, a management staff of standard chartered bank. This email
follows my discovery of an account that was last operated on 28th March,1996
with a balance of US$8.5 million . By provisions of operational banking
rules and guidelines, an account that is not operated for straight 10 years
ceases to exist as it will be forfeited to the federal treasury.

Since the 10 years deadline is just few months away I decided to see the
account owner and draw his attention to this important banking provision.To
this end I called at the residential address he provided, where I met a
completely burnt down house.People I asked confirmed he lived in that house
and was burnt to death with his entire family on 30th March,1996 in a fire
that started with cooking gas explosion.

Careful study of his banking records show that he did not fill in details of
next of kin in portions provided. This money will therefore continue
floating until it is due to be forfeited to the federal treasury.This
situation however presents a rare opportunity for me to collaborate with
someone with the same country of the deceased and claim this money.

For this reason I decided to seek your assistance and support so that we can
share the money equally (50%/50%) when it is released and remitted into your
account. I have already worked out simple legal procedures which we shall
facilitate for us to achieve this safely and efficiently.

To enable me start in earnest, do make the following information available
immediately to me :

(1.) Contact address.
(2.) Private telephone and fax numbers.

Fell free to furnish me with the requirements via email to enable me
commence the transfer process into your account forthwith.
Anticipating your enthusiastic response.
Kind regards,
Mr Owen Frank

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam