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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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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",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)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • gilmacfin2007@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: trisoft intl award <trisoft_intl11@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:05:17 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATION:::YOU JUST WON TRISOFT INTL AWARD



Dear Sir/Madam,Ref No: TIL/88-5/0007Date: 16th July 2007.
In furtherance to the publication of the officialresults of our Email Sweepstakes Promo, the Managementof Trisoft Intl wishes to inform you that yourelectronic address as attached to Serial Number:223155-06 and selected by our Electronics GamesSystem, has won you our Internet Sweepstakes Promothat was conducted on the 15th day of July 2007 andthat you are therefore been approved to apply for apayment claim of 1,000,000:00euro (One Million EuroOnly). You can only claim these funds by contactingthe assign claims payment company as approved by ourmanagement. Kindly contact this payment Firm on emailaddress: gilmacfin2007@gmail.com with your Complete Names,Residential Address, Telephone and Fax Numbers,Occupation, Age, the amount approved (Won) and thepayment Reference Numbers. All funds not applied forafter the 7th day of August 2007 will be regarded asunclaimed funds. In other not to complicate the claimprocesses, we advices that you keep a copy of thismessage safe until your claim has been processed andcollected either through the Bank-to-Bank Transfermeans or in a Certified Bank Draft.
This program was conducted as a new promotional meansof introducing our sweepstake services, to encouragethe use of the Internet and promote computer literacyworldwide while at the same time as a means ofproviding each beneficiary with capital funds forpositive investment purposes. Be informed here thatall email addresses that were used in this programwere extracted from the Internet without the knowledgeof each beneficiary hence you shouldn’t be worriedabout how we got your email address. Please, docontact our assign payment firm as explained above. Sincerely Yours,Mrs. Maris DrenthePrograms Coordinator.Email: trisoft@excite.comCopyright © 2005-2007 Trisoft.*********************************************Note: In accordance with the Trisoft policy andregulations, this message is dispatched directly tothe recipient only. If you are not the rightful ownerof this email address or feel that you have receivedthis message by error, we advice you destroy this copyas you are not authorized to read, print, retain ordisseminate any part of it.*********************************************
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam