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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.

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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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: vincent paulson <vincent_paulson@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2006 12:11:44 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE


DEAR FRIEND.

MY NAME IS VINCENT PAULSON. I LIVE IN AFRICA WITH MY WIFE AND A LITTLE DAUGHTER.I AM A CONTRACTOR AND A SUPPLIER OF INDUSTRIAL AND EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENTS.I HAVE SOME BUSINESS PARTNERS FROM BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA WHICH I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT IN RECEIVING MY PAYMENTS FROM THEM. I WANT YOU TO BE MY REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO WILL BE RECEIVING MY PAYMENTS FROM MY CLIENTS OVER THERE.THESE PAYMENTS COMES IN FORM OF MONEY ORDERS AND CHECKS.

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO 10% OF EVERY OF MY PAYMENTS THAT PASSED THROUGH YOU, THIS IS HOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE PAID, THERE WILL BE NO MONTHLY SALARY ATTACHED TO YOU. NOTE THAT YOU ARE NOT PUTTING YOUR MONEY OR SPENDING ANYTHING AT THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.THIS TRANSACTION IS RISK FREE AND DOES NOT RELATE TO MONEY LAUNDERING.I WILL DETAIL YOU AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU.

REGARDS.
VINCENT PAULSON.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam