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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • p_diouf67@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "PAPE DIOUF" <papediouf101@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: p_diouf101@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 12:16:13 +0100
Subject: DEAR FRIEND.

DEAR FRIEND, THIS MESSAGE MIGHT MEET YOU IN UTMOST SURPRISE.HOWEVER,IT'S JUST MY URGENT NEED THAT MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY. I AM A BANKER BY PROFESSION FROM SENEGAL IN WEST AFRICA AND HELD THE POST OF REMMITTANCE DIRECTOR IN OUR BANK BEFORE I RETIRED. I WRITE TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE TO GO INTO BUSINESS IN YOUR COUNTRY WHICH I WILL NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION.I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF INVESTING THE LEFT OVER FUNDS I GOT WHEN I WAS IN ACTIVE SERVICE . SEND ME YOUR REPLY IF YOU AGREE TO MY MAIL AS I WISH TO BUY A HOUSE AND RELOCATE MY FAMILY AS SOON AS ARRANGEMENT IS CONCLUDED. FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR RETURN MAIL AT p_diouf67@yahoo.com HAVE A GREAT DAY. YOURS, PAPE DIOUF

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam