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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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)
  • "cheque " (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.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Collins Smith" <collinssmith1@mail.ru> (may be fake)
Reply-To: colsmak@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 15:07:50 +0100
Subject: Mark Holdings,Ltd

Collins Smith,Managing director
Mark Holdings,Ltd
Office address:77, Bd du général de Gaule
B13 Dakar,Senegal.

ATTN:
Mark Holdings Ltd, is in search of a book-keeper/company representatives in the United States,canada and the UK.This project has been developed in a way not to affect your present job nor bring you any form of stress but in order to help take care of those extra costs while you work for us.
Mark Holdings,is a company that's deals in the production and supplies of Batik,Assorted African fabrics,various clothing materials,African art materials and all kinds of furnitures for exporting to the world.Presently our website is under construction and should be ready soon.
Recently It came to my knowledge that there are a lot of lapses in handling funds coming from our clients in the USA,Canada and UK which come in forms of Cashiers cheque,Company cheque and Money Orders which are not readily cash able outside the United States,Canada and UK,....So we need someone in the US,Canada and UK to work as our representatives and assist us in processing the payments from our various clients which come in on a weekly,monthly and annual basis.This is why we decided to employ a representatives over in the US,Canada and UK to help us receive our payments at your contact address you shall be providing us,in order to process our payment from our clients.

All you need to do is receive these payments from our clients in your country,.. get it deposited at your bank,Cash it then deduct your percentage( 15% of each payment) plus transfer charges and forward the balance funds to one of company's representatives via Money gram/Western Union.
Our payments will be issued out in your name as we would inform
our clients to do.Therefore the following details would be needed: I
would require you to send me an email with the
following details:

1)Your Full name
2)Your Address
3)Your Phone number
4)Your Age
5)Your Occupation.
6) International passport or Driving licence

We would forward these informations to our clients and they will start making payments to you as the company's representative in the states,Canada or UK.
Once we have all your details in our records,..We would notify you as soon as we confirm that one of our clients is mailing payment across to you.

I await your urgent response.

Warmest Regards,

Collins Smith,Managing director
Mark Holdings,Ltd

Office address:77, Bd du général de Gaule
B13 Dakar,Senegal

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam