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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:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Ann Gandoni" <mrsanngandoni@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:20:29 -0500
Subject: CPEL/OWN/

Dear Derrek Beck,

    You were selected here in Italy as one of the lucky winners of this foundation,you were asked to contact the Ecowas in Nigeria because they are one of the supporters of this award,just as it was stated to you during the earlier stage,i would appreciate if you follow the normal process and make the delivery payment and i assure you,your parcel will be delivered,if you cannot afford to pay the total fee then inform them on how much you could afford,because swft express courier service are very friendly people and can deliver your parcel to with less that just $150,so contact them and i assure you that they shall do nothing but give you the fastest delivery service.

Regards

Ann

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam