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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Chester Lumka" <drchester_lk@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: drchesterlk@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2006 14:17:54 +0700
Subject: Proposal

Dear Friend,

I want you to patiently read this offer that will surely benefit both of us. My name is Dr,Chester Lumka. I am a Lawyer and a native of Durban in South Africa. I got a good piece of information about you from one of my acquired directories during my search for a trust-worthy and honest person who can handle this confidential business with me.

Through the smuggling and selling of diamonds from South Africa to England, I was able to make $10m USD cash. The money is currently deposited with a bank in England, as I cannot go to the bank because I deposited it with the name of foriegner for security reasons. Now I want to withdraw this fund from the bank for proper investment like real eastate, tourism industry etc.

This is why I decided to contact you. I want to present you as my foreign partner whose name was used to make this deposit so that I can withdraw my fund out of the bank in your name and transfer it to you, where you will receive it and keep it until I come over to meet with you in your country. All plans and arrangements on how to move the cash from the bank to your nominated bank account in your country has been properly put in place.

For assisting and also helping me in investing the money in a business that will bring quick and good profits, you will benefit a reasonable part of the total money.
Please reply this message as soon as you read it to let me know your mind on this proposition. Send me your private phone, fax and mobile phone numbers as you reply this message. Once I am convinced that you are totally willing to cooperate with me on this assignment, I will let you know how to go about this. Note that this proposal is a top secret and should be kept confidential at all time. While I hope to hear from you.

Best regards,
Dr. Chester Lumka

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam