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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:
  • "million us 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: <d_lucas012@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 1999 7:29:57 -0000
Subject: LET US DO THIS

Greetings,

I am Mr. Donald Lucas, the auditor general of a prime bank in Africa. In my bank, we discovered an abandoned sum of US$36,000,000.00 Million dollar(THIRTY SIX MILLION US DOLLARS) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers (Mr. James Magallanes of United states) who died along with his entire family and son inlaw and family in July 2000 in a plane crash.

I need someone who can assist me to be able to
receive this money, even an empty account can serve
to claim this money.Should you be willing to
complete this transaction,send to me your private
telephone and fax numbers for easy and effective
communication and location wherein the money will be
remitted.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will give you more
details on this transaction.

Yours Sincerely,
Don Lucas

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam