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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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• 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.

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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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "mikedavids" <mikedavids@bol.com.br>
Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 14:49:35 -0300
Subject: "AM TRUSTING YOU



DEAR FRIEND,
I AM MR MIKE DAVID THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SECTION OF (UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC), WITH DUE RESPECT AND REGARD, I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU ON A BUSINESS TRANSACTION THAT WILL BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO BOTH OF US AT THE END OF THE TRANSACTION.
IN ORDER TO TRANSFER OUT (US$10 MILLION) TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS FROM ONE OF THE LEADING BANKS IN NIGERIA (UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC), I WANT YOU TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE AND HONEST PERSON WHO WILL BE CAPABLE AND FIT TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF A DIPLOMATIC MEASURE. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR AUDITING I DISCOVERED A FLOATING FUND IN AN ACCOUNT OPENED IN THE BANK IN 2003 AND SINCE 2005 NOBODY HAS OPERATED ON THIS ACCOUNT AGAIN, AFTER GOING THROUGH SOME OLD FILES, FROM THE RECORDS I DISCOVERED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT DIED WITHOUT A TRACE, HENCE THE MONEY IS FLOATING AND IF I DO NOT REMIT THIS MONEY OUT URGENTLY IT WILL BE FORFEITED FOR NOTHING BY OUR MANAGEMENT.
THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS MR PREGENT DAVIDSON A FOREIGNER, AND AN INDUSTRIALIST, AND NO OTHER PERSON KNOWS ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT OR ANY THING CONCERNING IT, THE ACCOUNT HAS NO OTHER BENEFICIARY AND MY INVESTIGATION PROVED TO ME AS WELL THAT MR PREGENT DAVIDSON UNTIL HIS DEATH WAS THE CEO OF DIAMOND SAFARI [PTY]. SA.
HOWEVER, I AM REVEALING THIS TO YOU BELIEVING IN GOD THAT YOU WILL NEVER LET ME DOWN WHEN THE MONEY ENTERS YOUR HAND. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS BUSINESS, I WILL GIVE TO YOU 40% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, WHILE 60% WILL BE FOR ME. AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
YOURSTRULY,
MR MIKE DAVID
AUDITOR GENERAL UBN.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam