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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.

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +2348060568315 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • bruce1970@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: anthony bruce <bruce.an4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <bruce1970@myway.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:16:15 -0600
Subject: From the deck of: Dr Anthony Bruce. Director,



From the desk of:
Dr Anthony Bruce. Director,
Dept reconciliation department,
Barclays bank, Lagos.
Sir/madam,
I am contacting you based on a business preposition which I want us to discuss. It involves the death and payment of a contractor worth over ₤15 million. I am sorry if I disturbed your attention; please kindly accept my apologies as your understanding and interest will be highly appreciated.
For confidentiality, below are my private contacts:
Tel: 234-806-0568315
Email: bruce1970@myway.com.
While I await your reply, proof and documents will be made available to you for detailed discussion, thank you for your anticipated co-operation in advance and best regards to you and your family.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Bruce.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam