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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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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024094921 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • collinsowen@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Collins Owen" <collins41owen@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: collin1sowen@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 04:25:39 +0100
Subject: URGENTLY!!

42 Campshill Road,
London
United Kingdom.
Tel:+447024094921
Email:collinsowen@myway.com

Dear Sir,

Please permit me to introduce myself to you. I am Mr.Collins Owen, An
Attorney in London,
United Kingdom. I got your contact from the British Council, and I have
decided to contact you so that we can carry out this mutually beneficial
business transaction.

My late Client until his death aboard an AERO FLIGHT 801 in 2001 deposited a
total of ($7.5M )with FINANCE HOUSE, He gave me the custody of the deposit
documents, and as such entrusted me with the Legal Rights to transfer and
execute this deposit to any Next of Kin after his demise. I have since tried
to locate any Next of Kin without success, hence I decided to contact you so
that you can rightfully stand as the next of kin to inherit the deposited
sum.
I am writing you confidentialy and to know if you can be capable to claim
this DEPOSIT .

You will be entitled to 30% of the total sum should you be willing to assist
me in this business transaction, 10% will be earmarked for taxation expense
and I will get the remaining 60%. I will prepare a formal agreement to guide
us in this transaction for accountability purpose.
Please reply to my private email:collinsowen@myway.com

Yours truly,

Mr.Collins Owen

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam