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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
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• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: williams paul <williamspaul23@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <williamspalo@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:08:01 +0100
Subject: URGENT INHERITANCE CLAIM



From the desk of: Mr Williams paul URGENT INHERITANCE CLAIM
Good day,I know this proposal will come to you as a surprise especially when youdo not know the writer, considering the huge sum of money involvedwhich could make any apprehensive. Let me start by introducing myself toyou, I am Mr Williams paul, the head of accounting department of my bank,where am presently working in England. I saw your contact during myprivate search at the information centre here in my country chamber ofcommence and industry and I want to believe that you will be very honest,committed and capable of assisting in this business venture.It is based on this that I am contacting you to stand as thenext-of-kin a late client of our bank so that the total sum of $13.5million(Thirteen million five hundred thousand dollars) will be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary and the next-of-kin to the deceased. All documents, and proof to enable you get the funds have been carefully worked out as we have secured from the different offices concerned for the smooth transfer of the fund to your nominated account.It has been agreed that the owner of the account will be compensatedwith 30% of the remitted funds, while we keep 65% and 5% will be setaside to offset expenses both locally and international.If this proposal satisfies you, please respond to me with the followinginformation:-FULL NAME-TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER-ADDRESSI await your urgent response, all the best and God bless you.Sincerely,Mr Williams paul

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam