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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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:
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "million us 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "GRAHAM DOUGLAS" <dogglas5@tiomail.ch>
Reply-To: dougglas01@yahoo.dk
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:23:27 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS INITIATIVE & CONCEPT



Dear Sir,madam,

BUSINESS INITIATIVE & CONCEPT

I know that you shall receive this proposal with utmost shock and 
disbelief, but not to worry, as the transaction progresses, you
shall  see things for yourself.
?
My name is Private GRAHAM DOUGLAS. I am a British soldier, serving
in  the military with the Third (3rd) infantry Division in Iraq
currently  in UK. I and my superior officer (an American) after going
on a  rampage on Saddam Hussein's palace in Baghdad discovered a
large  container where various denominations of currency worth
millions are  hidden.
?
You can enter the below website to confirm more of our discovery
which  was made known to the government, but this particular one is a
top  secret:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

Having discovered the container in question, I alerted my superior 
officer who smartly told me to cart away a substantial amount. The 
fund in question was moved to a secureplace with the assistance of a 
private Security Company in United Kingdom and the total is 
$25,000,000.00 (Twenty-five million US dollars). Basically since we 
are still in active service, we cannot keep this fund in
our bank  accounts. It is on this juncture that I was mandated by my
superior to  look for a reliable and trustworthy person who could
assist us to  receive the fund on our behalf for investment purposes.
Hence, my  contacting you.
?
There is no risk involved whatsoever. If you are interested, I will 
send you my identity and the full details of claim. My duty is to
find  a good partner that we can trust and that will assist us secure
the  fund. Can I trust you? To ensure confidentiality, when you
receive  this letter, kindly reply me via e-mail signifying your
interest  including your confidential telephone/fax numbers for
quick  communication and also your contact details for
identification. I  shall give you the details of the custodianto the
consignment in the  UK in due time.
?
I await your timely response via e-mail
?
Respectfully submitted.
?

GRAHAM DOUGLAS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam