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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "bove bass" <bovebass05@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: engerbovebass@hermail.com
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 21:01:13 -0900
Subject: PARTNERSHIP

FROM THE DESK OF ENGER BOVE BASS.
CITY EXPRESS BANK.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

I AM ENGER BOVE BASS, THE MANAGER, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN
REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY EXPRESS BANK PLC. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER
TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT.

WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $10.5,000.000.00 (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND USD DOLLARS) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN
CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN
IN NOVEMBER 1997 IN A PLANE CRASH.

SINCE WE HARD OF HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN XPECTING.HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME
OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR HIS MONEY AS THE HEIR, BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE THE
FUND FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESS SOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXTOF-KIN TO
THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER
THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT RELATIVE HAS EVER APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID
FUND.

UPON THIS DISCOVERY, I AND OTHER OFFICIALS INMY DEPARTMENT HAVE AGREED TO
MAKE BUSINESS WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE
HEIR OF THE FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED HE MAINTAINED
ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK, OTHERWISE THE FUND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BANKS
TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND.

WE HAE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATEDTHUS: 30% FOR YOU
AS FOREIGN PARTNER,60% FOR US THE OFFICAIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT AND 10% FOR
THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES INCURRED BY US AND YOU
DURING THE COURSE OF THIS BUSINESS.UPON THE SUCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS
TRANSFER, I AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY
AND MIND OUR SHARE. IT IS FROM OUR 60% WE INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL
MACHINERIES INTO MY COUNTRY AS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND.

TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION, WE REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR
INTEREST BY A RETURN E- MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELOW.

Your Full Name: ___________________________

Your Complete Address:_____________________________

Name of City of Residence: ____________________

Date of Birth (Day/Month/Year):____________________

Direct Telephone/Fax Number:_____________________

NOTE ALSO, THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF
ITS NATURE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.

ENGER BOVE BASS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam