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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
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• 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)
  • "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)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • philiptaylor2@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "philip taylor" <philiptayloru@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: philiptaylor2@myway.com
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 10:38:22 +0000
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION,

NAME:PHILIP TAYLOR
PHONE:2348033949355
E-MAIL:philiptaylor2@myway.com
LETTER OF INTRODUCTION

Dear Friend,
My name is Mr.Philip Taylor,Cousin to Mr.Charles Taylor,former
president of the Republic of Liberia who is presently in Nigeria on
political assylum.I am also in Nigeria with Mr. Charles Taylor. I
have decided to contact you for this business,after i have been
convinced by my good Nigerian Friend who knows you very well of your
good nature and sincerity/honesty Now,the issue here is that i have
the sum of $5 million (Five million united states dollars)deposited
right now in a Nigerian Bank.All i need is a trusted foreigner that
can assist me in transferring and investing the money outside
Africa,hence I am contacting you.

Please I beg you in the name of God in Heaven,this money is my only
hope of survival and i am counting on you for a successfull transfer
of this money.I hope you will not divert the money for your personal
use or sit on this money when it gets into your custody.

As soon as i get your personal details(your full address,your phone
and fax numbers) ,i will inform the Bank for change of ownership of
the money and the process of transfer will begin immediately.After the
transfer,I promise to compensate you with 20% of the total money and
5% will be mapped out for expences. All things being equal,this
trasaction will not take longer than eight working days.
Please reply to,:philiptaylor2@myway.com
I wish you all the best.

Regards,
Philip Taylor.
READ AND REPLY. THANKS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam