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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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 company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
• 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.
  • freemanjohn0@sify.com
  • presidentsie@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "import export" <importexport04@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 23:05:06 +0000
Subject: COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED

DEAR SIR/MADAM

I AM MR CHEUNG PUI, WE ARE GROUP OF BUSINESS MEN WHO
DEAL ON IMPORT AND EXPORT RAW MATERIALS INTO EUROPE,
AMERICA AND CANADA, WE ARE SEARCHING FOR REPRESENTATIVE WHO
CAN HELP US ESTABLISH A MEDIUM OF GETTING TO OUR COSTUMERS
IN EUROPE AMERICA AND CANADA AS WELL AS THEM MAKING PAYMENT
THROUGH YOU TO US.

WE WILL BE VERY GLAD IF YOU CAN BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN
YOUR COUNTRY AND EARN 5% OF EVERY PAYMENT MADE THROUGH YOU
TO US. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OUR VICE PRESIDENT
THROUGH E-MAIL AND YOU WOULD GET FURTHER DIRECTIVES.

NAME : MR JOHN FREEMAN

EMAIL : freemanjohn0@sify.com or presidentsie@yahoo.co.uk

THANKS,

MR CHUENG PUI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam