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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: gideon gowan <gideon_gowan006@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:50:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT REPLY


DEAR FRIEND
I AM MR GIDEON GOWAN WORKING WITH DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN OPERATIONS, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE. I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH AN ASSOCIATE WHO WORKS WITH THE NIGERIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE (FOREIGN TRADE DIVISION).
THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING,TRANSPARENCY AND ABSOLUTE TRUST.ONE MR. PAKIR KUBANI FROM INDIA EXECUTED A CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AVIATION HERE IN NIGERIA. THE CONTRACT WORTH IS FORTY MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$40,500,000.00), BUT DURING THE PROCESS OF TRANSFERRING THE MONEY TO HIM, HE DIED IN AN EARTHQUAKE DISASTER THAT OCCURED RECENTLY IN INDIA.
MEANWHILE THIS FUND IS PRESENTLY IN SECURITY COMPANY IN OVER SEAS. NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON EXCEPT TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I. THIS IS THE INFORMATION OFTHE CONTRACT EXECUTED BY MR. PAKIR KUBANI:
CONTRACT NUMBER: FMA/SLE/BIR/99CONTRACT SUM: US$40,500,000.00 YOU WILL STAND AS THE PARTNER TO MR.PAKIR KUBANI AS THE SOLE BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND.
I WILL SEND TO YOU ALL THE RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED IN THIS TRANSACTION IMMEDIATELY YOU ACCEPT TO CO-OPERATE WITH ME FOR YOUR VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION BEFORE WE PROCEED THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE AND NEEDS UTMOST SINCERERITY FROM ALL
THE PARTIES INVOLVED. I WILL BE GOING FOR MY RETIREMENT VERY SOON, SO I NEED THIS MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY IN FUTURE
I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
REGARDS.
MR GIDEON GOWAN


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam