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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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Kenneth Savimbi" <kennethsavimbi35s@latinmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 10:47:32 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: WITH DUE RESPECT.


FROM: MR KENNETH SAVIMBI,
BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A)
OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO.
WEST AFRICA

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM MR KENNETH SAVIMBI, A STAFF OF BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA
FASO.WEST AFRICA.

I AM WRITING FOLLOWING AN OPPORTUNITY IN MY OFFICE THAT WILL BE OF
IMMENSE BENEFIT TO BOTH OF US.IN MY DEPARTMENT I DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF USD$15.5 MILLION (FIFTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY)IN A ACCOUNT THAT BELONG TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS LATE MR.MORRIS THOMPSON AN AMERICAN WHO UNFORTUNATELY LOST HIS LIFE IN THE PLANE CRASH OF ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT 261 WHICH CRASHED ON JANUARY 31 2000,INCLUDING HIS WIFE AND ONLY DAUGHTER.YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE CRASH ON VISITING THIS SITE

WWW.CNN.COM/2000/US/02/01/ALASKA.AIRLINES.LIST/

SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH,WE HAVE BEEN SILENTLY
EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIVES TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE IT UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam